Hematological responses of HIV-seropositive patients to aerobic and resistance exercise training programs

Abstract

This study investigated the alterations of haematologic parameters of HIV-positive patients due to a 10-week aerobic and resistance exercise training. The study examined the influence of aerobic and resistance exercises on White Blood Cells (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC), Haematocrit (HCT), and Platelets (PLT). The pretest-posttest control-group experimental design was employed in this study. Eighty-eight HIV-seropositive patients in the first two stages of HIV and attending the outpatient clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital participated in the study. Randomization was done into control (30) and two experimental groups, aerobic exercise (28) and resistance exercise (30). The experimental groups exercised for 45 minutes, thrice a week for 10 weeks and the non-experimental group received usual anti-retroviral drugs and counseling. The initial intensity of the exercise was 60% HRmax and 1-RM and progression was by 10% every 3 weeks. Haematologic parameters were recorded initially and on termination of 10 weeks for all three groups. Frequency, mean, standard deviation, and analysis of co-variates (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis. The Bonferroni pairwise comparison was used as a Post-hoc test to identify the source of differences. The outcome of this research showed that exercise resulted in significant alterations in haematologic parameters of WBC, RBC, HCT, and PLT. Recommendations were made based on the outcome of this research that health personnel should prescribe exercise for HIV-infected persons due to the enhancement of haematologic parameters which in turn improves health.