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Exercise immunology: practical applications

D C Nieman1

  • 1Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, USA.

International Journal of Sports Medicine
|March 1, 1997
PubMed
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Exercise immunology research shows acute exercise causes immune cell shifts, while regular moderate activity may boost natural killer cell activity and reduce infection risk. Intense exercise can suppress immunity and increase illness susceptibility.

Area of Science:

  • Exercise immunology
  • Physiological responses to exercise
  • Immune system function

Background:

  • Over 600 papers published on exercise and immunology in 95 years, with a surge in the 1990s.
  • Exercise immunology impacts public health and athletic performance.
  • Key areas include acute exercise responses, long-term training effects, and exercise in specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review major findings in exercise immunology.
  • To highlight practical implications for public health and athletes.
  • To synthesize current knowledge on immune responses to exercise.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of 629 papers on exercise and immunology.
  • Analysis of findings related to acute exercise, chronic training, and specific conditions.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Synthesis of data on immune cell responses, infection risk, and disease outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Acute exercise induces rapid immune cell exchange, with natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and macrophages being most responsive.
    • Moderate exercise (<60 min, <60% VO2max) causes fewer immune perturbations than prolonged, high-intensity exercise.
    • Long-term training shows consistent NK cell activity elevation; other immune cell responses are inconsistent, with potential neutrophil suppression during heavy training.
    • Heavy exercise may increase upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) risk, while moderate activity may reduce URTI symptoms.
    • Vigorous exercise during infection can worsen severity and increase relapse risk.
    • Exercise benefits HIV-infected individuals but doesn't significantly enhance helper T cell counts.
    • Regular activity is linked to lower incidence and mortality rates for certain cancers.
    • Aging is associated with immune decline, but conditioned elderly subjects show superior immune function.
    • Factors like mental stress, undernourishment, and rapid weight loss can impair immunity, compounding exercise stress.

    Conclusions:

    • Exercise intensity, duration, and mode significantly influence immune responses.
    • Moderate, regular physical activity is generally beneficial for immune function and may reduce infection risk.
    • Overtraining and concurrent stressors can compromise immune defenses, increasing susceptibility to illness and potentially exacerbating existing conditions.