Effects of a short-term strength training programme on lymphocyte subsets at rest in elderly humans

The effects of a short-term strength training programme on resting lymphocyte subsets and stress hormone concentrations were analysed in 32 elderly sedentary subjects. Out of these 32 subjects, 8 women and 8 men [mean age 70.1 (SEM 1.0) years] were randomly assigned to a 8-week strength training programme which consisted of three sets of eight repetitions at 80% of one repetition maximum, for leg press, bilateral leg extension and seated chest press, 3 days a week. The remaining 8 women and 8 men [mean age 70.5 (SEM 0.9) years ] served as controls. Absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets (CD20+, CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3?CD56+CD16+) were measured with a new technique combining fluorescent microspheres and flow cytometry. In the trained subjects, substantial increases in strength took place in one repetition maximum during the 8-week training period for leg press [from means of 20.7 (SEM 1.0) to 23.6 (SEM 1.0) N?·?kg^?1 _LBM (lean body mass)], chest press [from means of 5.4 (SEM 0.3) to 6.2 (SEM 0.3) N?·?kg^?1 _LBM] and bilateral leg extension [from means of 6.3 (SEM 0.2) to 7.4 (SEM 0.3) N?·?kg^?1 _LBM] movements. Baseline cortisol concentration (P?P?P?P?