Training to Improve Functional Performance Also Increases Mucosal IgA in Elderly Women

Abstract

Functional ability has been inversely correlated with short-term morbidity and the need for assisted living among older adults. Exercise has been used as one method to help elderly maintain high levels of physical function, but exercise may increase their risk for infection. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of two different training methods on immune function in elderly women. METHODS: Ninety women over the age of 70 were randomly assigned to either a resistance training group (RT; n = 35); an activities of daily living group (ADL; n = 35); or a non-intervention control group (C; n= 20). The C group maintained normal levels of activity; the exercise groups completed 3 sessions of exercise per week for 24 weeks. The RT group completed 3 sets of 15, bilateral repetitions, of 10 different exercises using Thera Band® resistance bands, body weight and hand weights while the ADL group completed a battery of ADL's and flexibility exercises. Physical outcome measures were taken from the Senior Fitness test: 30-second chair stand, 30 second arm curl, chair sit-and-reach, back-scratch, get-up-and-go and the 6-minute walk. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected for 4 min at baseline and week 25. s-IgA was measured and secretion rates were calculated. Subjects completed forms indicating symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) each week. Each test was analyzed separately using a 3 (Groups: C v. RT v. ADL) X 2 (Time: baseline v. post) Analysis of Variance. Post-hoc procedures were used to assess significant interactions and main effects. The statistical package used to run all analysis was SPSS (Ver. 16.0), Chicago, IL. RESULTS: There was a significant main effect of group or time and a significant interaction on every measure. Post-hoc analysis revealed that both training groups increased in all measures from the Senior Fitness Test, s-IgA and the secretion rate of s-IgA compared to the controls. The resistance training group had a significantly lower incidence of URTI than the functional training group or the controls. CONCLUSIONS: This data suggests that both methods of training are effective for increasing select measures of functional performance and immune function as measured by s-IgA in elderly women, but resistance training is better for reducing URTI's in this population.