Health Benefits of Exercise for People Living With HIV

Abstract

With life expectancy increasing and the symptomatology of HIV being altered since the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), we now have begun to see metabolic changes with negative implications among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Some of these changes include increased blood lipids, central fat accumulation, lipodystrophy, and decreased aerobic capacity. All of which are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. A common practice among healthy and other clinical populations to help modify these risk factors is some form of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or a combination of both. It has been demonstrated that PLWHA could respond in a similar manner, which in turn may enhance life expectancy and/or quality of life. The purpose of this literature review was to examine the evidence of health benefits of routine exercise training among PLWHA since the advent of ART. Although limited in strength because of small sample sizes and limited intervention durations, there is overall consistency in the general findings. An overview of the findings would indicate that physical activity and exercise are both safe and effective in improving cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolic profile, and quality of life among PLWHA.

Effectiveness of Exercise Training on Mental Health, Physical Activity Level and Social Participation in People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The evidence grade rating of this effect is high and therefore, may have signi cant clinical importance. The ndings of this study agree with evidence from other studies [1,15,43,44], which reported on the effectiveness of physical exercises in ameliorating depression in PLWHA. Previous studies provided evidence where both aerobic and resistance exercise have independent and combined positive effects on various indicators of mental health in people living with HIV [41].…”

“…Evidence regarding the effectiveness of exercise training on depression favours exercise when compared to control and suggests that Combinational exercise ( important implications for practice, especially in sub-Saharan African where despite the existing evidence of the bene cial value of physical activity in ameliorating symptoms of mental health, yet physical activity is neglected as a routine rehabilitation modality in the mental healthcare systems [61]. Importantly, mood disorders, which is common in HIV conditions due to the infection and side effects of the medication (HAART) in patients, have also been linked to poor adherence to medications and consequently, poor health outcomes [1][2][3][4][5][6]. If physical activity/exercises ameliorate symptoms of mood disorders (depression), it may also improve adherence to medication and likewise other related health outcomes.…”

“…People living with the human immune de ciency virus (HIV)/Acquired immune de ciency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHA) have a variety of psychological and physiological symptoms directly related to either the virus, antiretroviral therapy or a combination of both [1]. The common adverse physical side effects of highly antiretroviral therapy (HAART) include disorders of the nervous system (headache, pain, and fatigue), gastrointestinal tract (nausea, and diarrhoea), integumentary system (rash), metabolic processes (lipid alterations) and morphology (lipodystrophy, lipoatrophy) [2].…”

“…Therefore, any interventions that could prevent, ameliorate or reverse the adverse effects of HIV and HAART should be of clinical and public health interest. In this regard, physical exercise which has been associated with improvements in the adverse physiological and psychological effects of HIV/long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in PLWHA [1] could be integrated into the routine care of PLWHA if there is any evidence of its effectiveness, hence this study.…”

Nutrición de Precisión para Dislipidemias en la Infección por el VIH/Sida

“…El paciente debe realizar ejercicio aeróbico de moderada intensidad y entrenamiento de resistencia de manera progresiva 5 veces por semana, durante al menos 30 minutos/día. Esto tendrá efectos positivos en la acumulación de grasa corporal, dislipidemias y capacidad aeróbica pero sin cambios en la carga viral y el recuento de CD4+ [15].…”