The Effects Of Acute Antigravity Treadmill Exercise On Inflammatory Markers In Elite Athletes

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the responses of interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C reactive protein (CRP) to antigravity treadmill exercise and normal treadmill exercise in male football players. METHODS: Eleven male football players aged between 18- 22 years, with at least 2 years of football history and regularly trained were included in the study. VO2max values of the athletes were calculated with 20 Meter Shuttle Test. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups. Half of the participants were exercised on the antigravity treadmill and half of them were exercised on the normal treadmill for 45 minutes on % 70 of VO2max values. After a week participants were exercised vice versa. IL-8, TNF-α and CRP levels were analyzed before, immediately after, 30 minutes and 2 hours after the exercises. RESULTS: CRP levels did not change with time in the antigravity and normal treadmill exercise and it was not different between the both groups (P > 0.05). TNF-α levels were lower 30 minutes after the exercise than the immediately after the exercise in the normal treadmill exercise (P < 0.05). However, it did not change with time in the antigravity treadmill exercise and was not different between the both groups (P > 0.05). IL-8 levels were higher 2 hours after the exercise than the before and immediately after the exercise in the antigravity treadmill exercise (P < 0.05). However, it did not change with time in the normal treadmill exercise and was not different between the both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Antigravity treadmill exercise differently affects inflammatory processes than the normal treadmill exercise.