Functional and concurrent training do not impair immune function and improve functional fitness in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the effects of functional and concurrent training on immune function and functional fitness in postmenopausal women. A randomized controlled trial was performed on 108 women aged 60 or older who were randomly assigned among the groups: control group (CG: n = 40; 63.88 ± 3.64 years); functional training (FT: n = 32; 63.88 ± 3.79 years); and concurrent training (CT: n = 36; 64.83 ± 4.00 years). Immune function was measured by the expression of the T-lymphocyte function-related surface markers (CD28 and CD57). Functional fitness was assessed using physical tests similar to daily activities, i.e., five times sit to stand, timed up and go, and gallon-jug shelf-transfer. Regarding immune function, there was only a time effect, without between-group differences. Specifically, FT and CT show a reduction and increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively, without impairment in the subpopulations analyzed, while CG showed a reduction in naive T cells (CD8+CD28+). For functional fitness tests, there was a time × group interaction effect for all tests, the FT and CT were superior to the CG, with FT showing differences after the fourth week, while the CT showed this effect after the eighth week of intervention. FT and CT do not impair immune function and similarly improve functional fitness in postmenopausal women. RBR-2d56bt. • Functional and concurrent training do not impair immune function. • Four weeks of functional training increases functional fitness. • Eight weeks of concurrent training increases functional fitness. • Functional training seems to promote faster adaptations in functional fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]