A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included seven studies on the safety and effectiveness of progressive resistive exercise intervention in adults living with HIV infection, with a total of 294 subjects. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 66 years. Women comprised less than 15% of the total number.
Main results indicated that performing progressive resistive exercise or a combination of progressive resistive exercise and aerobic exercise at least three times a week for at least four weeks appears to be safe and may lead to statistically and possibly clinically important increases in body weight and composition. Exercise interventions may lead to clinically important improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness and may also contribute to improvements in strength and psychological status for adults living with HIV/AIDS. Individual studies indicate that progressive resistive exercise or a combination of progressive resistive and aerobic exercise appears to be safe for patients who are medically stable, as no change was seen in immunological/virological status.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and by limitations in study quality (high attrition rates).
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