EFFECT OF PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE TRAINING ON FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY, QUALITY OF LIFE AND CD4 COUNT IN PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS

Background: Exercise training in the management of HIV/AIDS patient is not under research in India and if proper exercise training is been proved then quality of life for the HIV patients will improve significantly and will set a new dimension in exercise training. The present study aims to find the effect of Progressive Resistance Training on Functional Capacity, Quality of Life and CD4 Count in People with HIV/AIDS. Study Design: Experimental design. Methods: 24 participants were randomly allocated to Progressive Resistance Group and control group with 12 subjects in each group. Progressive Resistance 3 days/week for 3 months according to DeLorme’s Protocol with intensity of exercise (10 RM) calculated every week. Control group was advised not to do any exercises. Functional capacity was assessed by Six Minute Walk Test, Quality of Life was assessed by MOS-HIV Health Survey and Immune System was assessed by CD4 count. All three outcome measures were tested by blinded evaluator and measured at baseline and after intervention. Results: 24 subjects were recruited for the study and randomly divided in to 2 groups with Mean±SD age of 41.71±5.68 years. Both groups were homogenous at base line in all three outcome measures. Progressive Resistance group showed significant improvement in all three outcome measures with p < 0.05 whereas control group showed no change in CD4 count and quality of life and detrimental change in 6 minute walk test. Conclusion: Progressive Resistance Training can be better adjunct to pharmacological therapy for people with HIV/AIDS for improving cardiovascular fitness, quality of life and immune system.