Exercise Interventions for Quality of Life in HIV/AIDS

Exercise has emerged as a cornerstone of comprehensive care for people living with HIV/AIDS, offering benefits that extend beyond traditional pharmacotherapy. Structured programmes of aerobic and resistance training help to counteract muscle wasting, lipodystrophy and declines in bone mineral density associated with antiretroviral therapy and ageing. Regular physical activity also promotes improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, strength and functional capacity, thereby enhancing independence and reducing the risk of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. In addition to physical gains, exercise interventions are associated with reductions in fatigue, depression and anxiety, leading to measurable rises in self-reported quality of life. Tailored approaches that consider individual barriers—such as stigma, time constraints and local infrastructure—and that integrate behavioural support and supervision yield the most durable adherence. Globally, community-based and digitally supported models are extending access to exercise, helping to bridge disparities in care and to reinforce self-management in diverse settings.

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Exercise Interventions for Quality of Life in HIV/AIDS publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in exercise interventions for quality of life in hiv/aids across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Aerobic exercise: Physical activity that relies on sustained, rhythmic movements of large muscle groups to improve cardiovascular endurance and oxygen utilisation.

Resistance training: Exercise that induces muscle contraction against external force—often weights or resistance bands—to increase strength and lean mass.

Cardiorespiratory fitness: A measure of the circulatory and respiratory systems’ ability to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity, commonly quantified by VO2peak.

Bone mineral density (BMD): The concentration of mineral matter per square centimetre of bone, indicative of bone strength and fracture risk.

CD4+ count: The number of CD4-positive T lymphocytes per cubic millimetre of blood, serving as a marker of immune competence in HIV infection.

References

1. Perceptions, facilitators and barriers of physical activity among people living with HIV: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health (2023).
2. Low- and High-Intensity Physical Activity Among People with HIV: Multilevel Modeling Analysis Using Sensor- and Survey-Based Predictors. JMIR mHealth and uHealth (2022).
3. Impact of physical exercises on immune function, bone mineral density, and quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review with meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases (2019).