Effects of 5 Weeks of Aerobic and Resistance Training on Health of HIV-Infected Individuals

Abstract

2094 BACKGROUND: HIV-infected individuals frequently suffer from an unexplained loss of body mass and a redistribution of fat mass. These adaptations are associated with declines in physical and mental health and decreased physical performance. Exercise has been proposed as a method of counteracting the loss of physical functioning and improving health. PURPOSE: To determine if 5 weeks of moderate intensity exercise is sufficient to improve body composition and physical and mental health in HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: Individuals who were cleared medically for participation were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Both groups completed a pre and post-test, which consisted of a body composition analysis (DEXA) and a questionnaire packet (SF-36 v2) that assessed 8 dimensions of health. After the pre-test, the intervention group competed 5 weeks of exercise training, at a frequency of 2–3 times per week, that utilized moderate intensity aerobic exercise along with upper body and lower body strength training. Due to attrition, research to date has accounted for 12 subjects in the intervention group and 5 subjects in the control group. RESULTS: The intervention group demonstrated a significant decrease in percent total fat (p = .00) and percent trunk fat (p = .00) and a significant improvement in mental health (MH) (p = .02), social functioning (SF) (p = .04), role emotional (RE) (p = .01), and in the mental health component score (MCS) (p = .02). Correlational analysis revealed a significant relationship between changes in percent total fat and MH scores (r = .69, p = .02), but not between percent total fat and physical health scores. The control group exhibited no significant change in percent total fat (p = .60) or percent trunk fat (p = .37). SF-36 v2 scores on MH (p = .39), RE (p = .87), SF (p = .61), and the MCS (p = .46) did not significantly change in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Five weeks of moderate intensity exercise training appears to improve the body composition of HIV-infected persons, as well as improving other aspects of mental and physical health. Further, the results indicate that changes in body fat appear to be related to mental health, but not physical health, as self-reported. This research was supported by a grant from the NINR/NIH-funded Center for Health Promotion & Risk Reduction in Special Populations.