Position statement part one: immune function and exercise

The article focuses on the scientific basis about the influence of exercise on immune response. It notes that the commonly held beliefs that the frequency of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) is increased in high performance athletes after single bouts of ultra-endurance exercise and during intensive training periods have stimulated the focus on respiratory infections in exercise. It also states that the major effector function of the mucosal immune system that provides the first line of defence against pathogens is the production of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA).