The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jul 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of an exercise intervention on immunologic parameters in frail elderly nursing home residents.
Aging is associated with decline in both cell-mediated and humoral immunity and may contribute to increased incidence and severity of infections in frail elderly. Exercise, depending on intensity, has significant effects on the immune system. We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a 32-week functionally oriented exercise program in frail elderly living in nursing homes and determined whether the exercise intervention was associated with a change in immune parameters in this frail elderly nursing home population. ⋯ A 32-week exercise intervention did not bring about beneficial or detrimental effects on immune parameters in the frail elderly nursing home population and may explain why the intervention was not associated with a change in the incidence of infections in the intervention group compared with the control group.