Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• elaheh rezaei ¹
• Mehdi bostani ¹
• mohammadreza ghalani ²

¹ Department of Physical Education, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

² Department of Statistics, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that is associated with inflammation and various age-related diseases, and its levels increase in old age. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic exercise on plasma COX-2 levels in inactive elderly men. In the present quasi-experimental study, 30 elderly men with an age range of 60 to 74 years were purposefully selected and then randomly divided into two aerobic exercise groups and a control group. The aerobic exercise group performed exercise for eight weeks, three sessions per week, at an intensity of 50-75% of the heart rate reserve based on the principle of progressive overload. The control group did not participate in any exercise program. Blood sampling was performed 48 hours before and after the exercise period in both groups and simultaneously, and plasma COX-2 levels were measured by ELISA protein assay. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare variables in the two groups. Data were analyzed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS-23 software. The results showed that eight weeks of aerobic exercise resulted in a significant reduction in plasma COX-2 levels in inactive elderly men (P < 0.05). According to the results of the present study, it is recommended that elderly people should benefit from aerobic exercise in their daily routine to reduce inflammation and consequently control inflammation-related diseases in old age.

Keywords

• aerobic exercise
• COX-2
• elderly