title: Effects of a supervised exercise program on the physical fitness and immunological function of HIV-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exercise effects in subjects with HIV/AIDS are not entirely understood. The study aimed to investigate the effects of a supervised exercise program on the physical fitness and immunological function of HIV-infected subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven highly active antiretroviral therapy treated HIV-infected patients (age: 45±2 years; CD4-T: 21.3±2.2%) were assigned to a control (CG, n=8) or experimental (EG, n=19) group. The EG participated in a 12-week exercise program, consisting of aerobic training, strength, and flexibility exercises (3 times/wk; aerobic-30min: PWC 150; strength-50min: 3 sets of 12 reps of 5 exercises at 60-80% 12 RM; flexibility-10min: 2 sets of 30 s at maximal range of motion of 8 exercises).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to training there was no significant difference in any variable between the EG and the CG. Flexibility (23%, P<0.05), 12 repetition maximum in the leg press and seated bilateral row exercises (54% and 65% respectively, P<0.05) increased, while the heart rate at a given cycle ergometer workload declined (19% for slope and 12% for intercept, P<0.05) in the EG, but not in the CG. No significant differences were found for the relative and absolute CD4 T-cell counts between groups prior to or after training, but there was a slight enhancement trend in the EG (16%, P=0.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall training can improve the muscle and aerobic fitness of HIV-infected patients with no negative effect on their immunological function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion/ State University of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil. pfarinatti@gmail.com
authors.forename: P T V
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Farinatti
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fleck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015444:Exercise; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology