Acute Effects of Basketball Training on White Blood Cell Count

Abstract

It is well recognized that exercise causes considerable changes in circulating leukocyte subpopulations. Τhese changes appears to be related to exercise intensity and duration. Literature data shows immunosuppression in endurance athletes; however, team sports have received little attention with reference to acute effects of exercise on immune function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute changes in leukocyte number after a single bout of basketball training. Fifteen elite female basketball players, members of the national team and eight non-athletes participated in the study. The duration of the exercise was two hours and was performed at an intensity of 70% of maximal heart rate. Before the exercise (pre), immediately after (post) and four hours after the exercise conclusion (4 h) blood samples were taken in order to determine
white blood cells and the subsets of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes eosinophils and basophils. At the same time, blood samples were obtained from non-athletes. The analysis of data indicated significant increase in total white blood cells for the athletes (p<.001) after the end of exercise. The leukocytosis was still evident after four hours of recovery (25% higher from the pre-exercise values) and there was a significant difference between athletes and non-athletes (p<.001). This leukocytosis was primarily due to a neutrophilia as there were no significant differences in lymphocytes after the end of exercise and between the two groups (p>.05). These findings revealed that the single bout of basketball training induced a mild leukocytosis without affecting the lymphocyte count and the immune system in athletes. 

*The project was co-funded by the European Social Fund & National Resources-EPEAEK II-HRAKLEITOS