Effect of Single Session of High Intensity Interval Exercise on Some Immune and Inflammatory Factors in Male Athletes and the Risk of Infection to Coronavirus

High Intensity exercise is one of the effective factors on immune and inflammatory factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the single session of high intensity interval exercise (CrossFit) on levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, lactic acid and C- reactive protein (CRP) of male athletes to make decision for doing this exercise in coronavirus prevalence period.

In this Causal-comparative study, 32 male athletes were selected as participants (with mean of age 26.9±4.7 year, height 177 ± 5 cm, weight 80.7±6.4 kg). Exercise session included a 400-meter running on treadmill,triple dead lift movement, pull-up (30 repetition), swing of kettlebell (30 kg) and throwing of 20 sand balls. Blood sampling, CBC and biochemistry auto analyzer tests were used for measuring leukocytes, lactic acid and CRP.  In addition, ANOVA with repeated measure, Friedman, Wil-kaksun and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used to examine the differences between variables in resting position, post-exercise, and after modify the results by consideration of plasma volume changes  using SPSS version 16 software.

The results showed significant increase in lactic acid (P<0.001), CRP (P=0.006), leukocytes (P<0.001) and lymphocytes (P=0.001), but the increase of monocytes was no significant (P=0.705). In addition, the results of study showed significant decrease in neutrophils (P=0.005) and plasma volume (P<0.001). Furthermore, the significant results of some indices were removed by consideration of plasma volume change (P>0.05).

The single session of high intensity interval exercise makes disorder in immune and inflammation responses in athletes. Therefore, it has been suggested not to do intensive exercise at coronavirus prevalence period and consider enough time for recovery after high intensity exercise.