The Effectiveness of Strengthening Exercises on HIV Positive Patients : A Literature Review

Abstract

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are more prone to get frequent disabilities, cardiorespiratory issues, neurological conditions and musculoskeletal problems during their stages of infection and sometimes during Antiretroviral therapy treatments. Musculoskeletal conditions are one of the major issues for HIV positives and it can be treated with strengthening exercises and other treatments. This study offers a few assets for physiotherapists and physiotherapy students who are interested in expanding their knowledge in strength training for HIV positive clients. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of strength training on the muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle mass, body weight, BMI and body fat in HIV positive patients. A Literature review is the chosen method. Six full articles were selected. This thesis is based on randomized control trials with HIV positive patients who were between 18 to 70 years old. All the studies had different protocols and durations for their interventions. Five articles reported, that due to strength training there was a significant improvement in muscle strength and muscle mass. Only one study considered endurance as an outcome and found endurance was increasing with the resistance training. Though all the studies had included body weight and BMI as outcomes, it was difficult to have a final conclusion about effects on body weight and BMI. Furthermore, the majority of the studies found that there is a possible co-relation between strengthening exercises and reducing body fat on PLWHA. In conclusion, strengthening exercises remarkably increased muscle mass, muscle strength, endurance, and reduction in body fat.But there were not any fixed conclusion for Body weight and BMI.