Effects of Early and Vigorous Exercise on Recovery from Infectious Hepatitis

Abstract

To compare the effect of strenuous exercise on recovery time in 199 American servicemen in Vietnam with infectious hepatitis to that in 199 patients with infectious hepatitis treated in the customary fashion, the exercise group was started on the program of strenuous exercise for approximately three hours daily at the time their symptoms were considered to be slight, irrespective of the degree of liver-function abnormality. No statistical difference was found between the two groups in the duration of elevation of serum bilirubin or in relapse rate. Exercise did not adversely affect those whose maximum serum bilirubin was greater than 3.0 mg per 100 ml or those over 30 years old. No difference in duration of disease was found in those who were involved in strenuous activity at the time of onset of illness as compared to those involved in light activity. Strenuous activity does not appear to have any adverse effect on the acute course of infectious hepatitis in previously healthy young men.