edited by katie barnes. email: katiebarnes@leisuremedia.com research round-up


Recent research has suggested that regular exercise could help to prevent people catching a cold


cold calling A


dults suffer from an average of two to four colds a year and school children can get up to eight or more. And


with the winter months well underway, the chances of catching a cold are more likely. Now, however, researchers from Appalachian State University in North Carolina, US, have found that regular exercise could help to prevent people getting a cold in the first place.


the study The study, which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine* followed 1,002 adults aged between 18 and 85 – with one in four participants aged 60 or over. It took place over two 12-week stretches in 2008: half of the participants were observed in the autumn and half in the winter. The participants reported their own


perceived fi tness levels. Leisure-time exercise frequency habits and other factors affecting the immune system – such as lifestyle, dietary patterns and exposure to stressful events – were also assessed. In addition, the number


cold facts W


hile exercise may help to prevent a cold, those who are already sick should


approach workouts cautiously, says Nieman, who is also a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He’s written the following guidelines for the ACSM: DO exercise moderately if your


cold symptoms are confi ned to your head. If you have a runny nose or sore throat, moderate exercise is permissible. More intense exercise


can then be resumed a few days after symptoms subside. DON’T ‘sweat out’ your illness.


This is potentially dangerous. DO stay in bed if your illness has


spread beyond your head. Respiratory infections, fever, swollen glands and extreme aches and pains all indicate that you should rest up, not work out. DON’T jump back too soon. Allow


at least two weeks of rest after a serious bout of cold or fl u and ease yourself back in gently.


of upper tract respiratory infection incidences were recorded.


the results As expected, more colds were experienced during the winter, but those who exercised five days week or more had a 46 per cent lower risk of getting a cold compared to those who only exercised once a week. In addition, those who exercised


more and did catch a cold had that cold for far fewer days than those who didn’t work out. In fact, people who were only active for one day a week spent twice as much time with a cold compared to those who exercised fi ve times a week or more. Also, it was found that the strength of


cold symptoms were worse for people in the sedentary group. The most active people experienced 41 per cent less severe colds than those who exercised the least. The benefi ts of exercise on the upper respiratory system held true regardless of age or gender. It’s believed that exercise is


effective because it increases the


Regular exercise can reduce the number of colds a person gets, as well as the cold’s severity if they do get ill


number of immune system cells in the bloodstream. Lead author Dr David Nieman explains that, although the levels of immune system cells decline within a few hours, each bout of exercise is likely to enhance the body’s protection against harmful viruses and bacteria and reduce the number and severity of upper tract respiratory infections, such as the common cold. What’s more, exercise was also


found to be more effective than any other lifestyle factor in boosting a person’s immune system. Nieman explains: “We have analysed all lifestyle factors and this is the best evidence we have thus far that regular aerobic exercise, fi ve or more day a week for more than 20 minutes a day, rises above all other lifestyle factors in lowering sick days during the winter and fall seasons.”


* Nieman C, et al. Upper respiratory tract infection is reduced in physically fi t and active adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010). doi:10.1136/bjsm.2010.077875. january 2011 © cybertrek 2011 Read Health Club Management online healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 39


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