Faculty of Science

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Browsing Faculty of Science by Subject "Aerobic exercise"

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    Effects of aerobic exercise on health outcomes and quality of health in people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy
    (Advances in Health and Exercise, 2025-05-18) Mwebaze, Nicholas; Chebet, Milton; Linika, Lumbuye; Nabaggala, Elyvania; Nahwera, Loyce
    HIV remains a global major public health issue and the cases in developing countries are so high. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) plays a big role in reducing the morbidity and mortality among the people living with HIV (PLHIV). The ART is associated with long-term side effects including an increased risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. These complications negatively impact the quality of life of PLHIV, necessitating holistic approaches to care. While ART controls viral replication, complementary strategies, including lifestyle interventions like exercise, are essential to mitigate NCDs. Exercise, particularly aerobic and resistance training, has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, metabolic function, and psychological well-being in PLHIV. Specific exercises such as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, and weight training can help manage NCDs effectively when tailored to an individual’s fitness level and health needs. Supervised exercise programs, led by professionals such as clinical exercise physiologists, are critical to ensure safety, optimize benefits, and encourage adherence. These programs could be integrated into HIV care to provide structured and effective interventions. In limited resource countries, access to exercise facilities, and a lack of trained professionals present significant barriers to implementing exercise programs for PLHIV. Additionally, cultural misconceptions and a lack of awareness about the role of exercise in health management hinder uptake. However, from the reviewed papers, research gaps exist regarding context-specific exercise protocols, the long-term benefits of supervised exercise, and how to best implement these programs in resource-limited settings. In conclusion, structured exercise programs hold great potential to improve health outcomes and quality of life for PLHIV on ART. Addressing existing barriers and conducting further research are essential to maximize the impact of exercise as a tool for managing NCDs in this population.
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    Implications of aerobic exercise on clinical outcomes of HIV positive clients in Uganda: a case of general military hospital-Bombo
    (Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-10) Mwebaze, Nicholas
    Aerobic exercise may be a helpful treatment for a variety of ART side effects and symptoms, according to studies from both healthy individuals and those with various chronic illnesses. The use of aerobic exercise to address the symptoms, and undesirable side effects that lower the quality of life for people with chronic HIV infection is currently being investigated. This study's primary goal was to determine how aerobic exercise affected the clinical outcomes of HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Uganda. It further aimed at evaluating the effect of a 12 weeks aerobic exercise on immunological measures, functional work capacity and psychological markers of HIV positive clients on ART in Uganda. The study, conducted at the General Military Hospital in Uganda, employed a quasi-experimental design. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and a sample of 135 people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy engaged in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using t-tests, revealing significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms among participants. The participants were divided into two groups at random: Group 1, which received a moderately intense aerobic exercise program for twelve weeks, and Group 2, which received no treatment. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) was used to screen both groups. Clinical outcomes, like: immunological measurements, were then evaluated using Clusters of Differentiation 4 (CD4), Functional work capacity using Rate of Perceived Extortion (RPE)/ Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) and psychological markers using a questionnaire. The aerobic exercise intervention was administered to the experimental group for twelve weeks. Members of the control group were called weekly to make a follow up on them during the 12 weeks and ensure that they did not feel left out of the survey. Following the completion of the 12-week post-test, the results showed that: (i) aerobic exercises significantly increased the CD4 count in experimental group with an average mean of 29.7% and a p=0.001; (ii) It had a statistically significant effect the functional work capacity of HIV positive clients on ART with p<0.001 which was less than initial p= 0.05, a decreased heart rate, significantly improved VO2 max from 25.13 ml/kg/min to 34.19 ml/kg/min and (iii) it also had significant effect on psychological markers indicating a decrease in paranoid ideation, depression, neuroticism, anxiety, and phobia in HIV positive clients on ART with p-value<0.001. Therefore, well-structured supervised 12 weeks moderate intensity aerobic exercises at a tempo of 120-150 beats per minute improved CD4 cell in the body of HIV positive clients on ART. It also improved the clinical outcomes of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. It is recommended that aerobic exercise be used as an additional therapy in the care and treatment of HIV positive clients on ART in Uganda by adding it in the HIV care and treatment guidelines. There is also need to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on other clinical outcome like viral load, body composition and adherence to drugs.
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    The influence of a twelve weeks aerobic exercise regimen on neuroticism in HIV positive clients in Uganda
    (International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 2025-06-28) Mwebaze, Nicholas; Nsibambi, Constance A.N.; Ojuka, Edward; Maghanga, Mshilla
    Highly active antiretrovirals have led to a considerable drop in HIV-related morbidity and mortality and a large increase in the life expectancy of HIV positive individuals in Uganda. The likelihood of clinicians coming across people exhibiting neuroticism symptoms associated with the illness has been reported to be on the increase. As much as exercising has been established to have positive effects is alleviating such symptoms, it is noted that, 52% of the population do not follow an exercise regimen and the problem has persisted. This study assessed the influence of aerobic exercise on neuroticism symptoms in HIV positive clients attending an ART clinic in Uganda. A quasi-experimental research design with 67 volunteers in each of the pre- and post-test control groups. The results reveal that at the pre-test stage, all the experimental group participants reported experiencing some form of neuroticism. However, after the aerobic exercises, 80.8% of the experimental study participants reported having been relieved of neuroticism symptoms. In this instance, the experimental group’s p-value was smaller than the alpha level (.05) since the test took a 95% threshold for significance. These results imply that aerobic exercises have a significant effect on reducing neuroticism in HIV positive clients on ART.