Growing evidence indicates the pronounced effects of physical activity on immune functions, which may largely depend on the type of exercise, intensity, and duration. However, limited information is available regarding the effects of low-impact exercises, especially on the level of adaptive immune system. Our study aimed to investigate and compare the changes in a broad spectrum of lymphocyte subtypes after 14 weeks of aerobic-type total-body-shaping workouts (TBSW) and Pilates workouts (PW) among healthy individuals. We determined the percentages of peripheral natural killer cells and different T and B lymphocyte subtypes with flow cytometry. At the end of the exercise program, significant changes in naïve and memory lymphocyte ratios were observed in TBSW group. Percentages of naïve cytotoxic T (Tc) cells elevated, frequencies of memory Tc and T-helper cell subsets decreased, and distribution of naïve and memory B cells rearranged. Proportions of activated T cells also showed significant changes. Nonetheless, percentages of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10-producing regulatory type 1 cells and immunosuppressive CD4⁺CD127^lo/−CD25^bright T regulative cells decreased not only after TBSW but also after PW. Although weekly performed aerobic workouts may have a more pronounced impact on the adaptive immune system than low-impact exercises, both still affect immune regulation in healthy individuals.

Sarcopenia, defined as loss of muscle mass and strength, develops gradually with aging or after chronic disease. Efforts are ongoing to identify the best interventions that can slow down or stop sarcopenia. Nutrition-based interventions and exercise therapy may be beneficial; however, pharmacotherapy also could play a role. The effect of ACE inhibitors on physical performance is controversial. The present study investigates the impact of functional training on sarcopenia in the presence or absence of ACEi in elderly females. A total of 35 women over 65 years of age were selected for two groups on the basis that they were taking ACEi (n = 18) or not (n = 17). All subjects conducted a training program two times a week for 6 months. We examined various factors related to sarcopenia. After completing the short physical performance battery (SPPB) test, we found a significant improvement after 6 months of functional training. SPPB values of the ACEi group were significantly lower at the beginning of the study; however, we observed no difference between the SPPB results of the two groups after the training period. We conducted further studies to measure posture and spine mobility. Our Schober and Cobra test results revealed significantly improved spine mobility (both flexor and extensor) in both groups after 6 months of training. Furthermore, the grip strength of the hands, studied by an electric dynamometer, was significantly improved in both groups at the end of the training period. Our results indicated that functional training may improve body composition and muscle strength in patients diagnosed with sarcopenia. Furthermore, ACEi may be a helpful additional therapy in older adult patients suffering from severe sarcopenia.

Our goal was to assess agility, explosive power, and speed-endurance capacity by implementing noninvasive procedures and sport-specific tests. We hypothesized that agility, speed, explosive power, and speed-endurance capacity might be maintained or increased by an individualized home-based training program. Eleven adolescent athletes participated in our study; they executed three tests before the coronavirus outbreak and 13 weeks later, after the pandemic curfew. We used the SpeedCourt System to assess the sport-specific speed and agility parameters and monitor speed-endurance capacity. We conducted the first measurement at the end of the preparatory period, on 28 February 2020. The second session consisted of 4 weeks of regular training and 9 weeks of individual, home-based activities. Compared to the first (pre-pandemic) testing session, our participants demonstrated a significantly improved capacity of the lower limbs’ explosive strength after completing the home-based exercise routine, compared to the first (pre-pandemic) testing session. We found that agility, speed, and explosive power might be maintained at the same level under home-based conditions. We found that it was challenging for the participants to increase their “pre-pandemic” endurance capacities.

During exercise, increased oxygen consumption results in elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). If the antioxidant system is unable to counteract this surge in ROS, oxidative stress occurs. Physical activity modulates both the generation and clearance of ROS through dynamic interactions between metabolic and antioxidant systems, and also influences the oxidative burst activity of phagocytes, a key component of the innate immune response. To investigate the acute physiological responses to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), we assessed the effects of a single HIIT session on oxidative stress markers and the oxidative burst activity of phagocytes in young professional athletes and non-athlete individuals. Blood samples were collected before and after a HIIT session from eleven male athletes (mean age: 22.1 ± 4.5 years) and ten male non-athlete university students (mean age: 21.6 ± 2.3 years). Participants performed a single treadmill HIIT session of ten 45-s intervals at 75–85% of heart rate reserve, separated by 45-s low-intensity recovery periods, with target intensities individualized using the Karvonen formula. Total antioxidant capacity, activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes, total serum nitrite/nitrate levels, lipid peroxidation products, and oxidative burst activity of phagocytes were evaluated before and after exercise. In athletes, a significant increase was observed in the activity of superoxide dismutase (from a median of 2.09 to 2.21 U/mL; p = 0.037) and catalase (from a median of 32.94 to 45.45 nmol/min/mL; p = 0.034) after exercise, whereas no significant changes were found in the control group. Total serum nitrite/nitrate levels significantly increased in both groups after exercise (athletes: from a median of 8.70 to 9.95 µM; p = 0.029; controls: from a median of 10.20 to 11.50 µM; p = 0.016). Oxidative burst capacity of peripheral blood phagocytes was significantly higher in athletes both before (median: 10,422 vs. 6766; p = 0.029) and after (median: 9365 vs. 7370; p = 0.047) the HIIT session compared to controls. Our findings demonstrate that training status markedly influences oxidative stress responses, with athletes exhibiting more effective long-term antioxidant adaptations. These results emphasize the necessity of tailoring exercise regimens to baseline fitness levels in order to optimize oxidative stress management across different populations.