Abstract
This study was designed to assess the influence of resistance training on salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels and hormone profile in sedentary adults with Down syndrome (DS). A total of 40 male adults with DS were recruited for the trial through different community support groups for people with intellectual disabilities. All participants had medical approval for participation in physical activity. Twenty-four adults were randomly assigned to perform resistance training in a circuit with six stations, 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Training intensity was based on functioning in the eight-repetition maximum (8RM) test for each exercise. The control group included 16 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched adults with DS. Salivary IgA, testosterone, and cortisol levels were measured by ELISA. Work task performance was assessed using the repetitive weighted-box-stacking test. Resistance training significantly increased salivary IgA concentration (P=0.0120; d=0.94) and testosterone levels (P=0.0088; d=1.57) in the exercising group. Furthermore, it also improved work task performance. No changes were seen in the controls who had not exercised. In conclusion, a short-term resistance training protocol improved mucosal immunity response as well as salivary testosterone levels in sedentary adults with DS.
Highlights
The increasing life expectancy of people with Down syndrome (DS) calls for knowledge of conditions that frequently occur in adults with the syndrome, and of which health personnel should be aware [1].This population group is susceptible to infections of the respiratory and the gastrointestinal tracts, which may be explained, at least in part, by a severe impairment of immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion in the saliva [2]
12-month mixed protocol based on endurance and resistance training improved salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in elderly subjects
Neither sport-related injuries nor dropouts were reported during the study. This was the first study that demonstrated that resistance training improved mucosal immunity response, by increasing salivary IgA concentration, in sedentary adults with DS
Summary
The increasing life expectancy of people with Down syndrome (DS) calls for knowledge of conditions that frequently occur in adults with the syndrome, and of which health personnel should be aware [1] This population group is susceptible to infections of the respiratory and the gastrointestinal tracts, which may be explained, at least in part, by a severe impairment of immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion in the saliva [2]. In this regard, the additional positive effects of resistance training on functional tasks of daily living and employability in this population group should be taken into consideration [7]
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