DR. E. O AIHIE

Functional exercise, typified by the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), provokes a significant physiological stress response to meet the demands of submaximal exertion. The haematological system is highly sensitive to such stress, withchanges in erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet parameters serving as key indicators of fluid shift, immune mobilization, and hemostatic activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of functional exercise (Six Minute Walk Test) on key haematological indices in healthy young adult males. A pre-post intervention study was conducted involving healthy young adult male volunteers. Baseline venous blood samples were collected into EDTA tubes for a full blood count analysis. Participants subsequently performed the 6MWT as per the American Thoracic Society guidelines. A second venous blood sample was collected immediately post-test for repeat haematological analysis. Statistical significance was determined using a paired T-test. The study revealed a specific pattern of haematological response. No significant changes were observed in total white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, granulocyte count, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, or haematocrit value post-exercise. However, a significant reduction was recorded in key erythrocyte indices, including haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean cell volume (MCV) immediately following the 6MWT. This study demonstrates that functional exercise induces a defined hematological profile in healthy young males, characterized by significant reductions in hemoglobin, MCH, and MCV without changes in total cell counts. These findings provide a crucial normative baseline for clinical interpretation of exercise tests and highlight the sensitivity of erythrocyte indices to submaximal exertion