The relative effects of resistance training (RT) upon muscle fitness and immune function among HIV-infected patients are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to determine the effects of RT upon muscle strength, muscle mass and CD4 cells count and to identify potential moderators of those outcomes in HIV-infected patients. Meta-analyses use random or fixed-effects model depending on the heterogeneity of effect sizes, complemented with Hedge's g correction factor. Thirteen trials were meta-analysed. Overall, RT increased muscle strength (35.5%, p < 0.01) and CD4 cell count (26.1%, p = 0.003) versus controls (p < 0.03), but not muscle mass (p = 0.051). Meta-regression followed by subgroup moderator analysis showed that gains in muscle strength followed a dose-response pattern with largest increase detected among trials with longer (24 weeks; 49.3%) than shorter intervention (< 12 weeks; 39%), higher (Physiotherapy Evidence-Based Database (PEDro) scale 6; 38.3%) than lower (PEDro 5; 28.1%) quality, and longer (12 months; 59.7%) than shorter time under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (< 6 months; 37.1%, p < 0.01). RT appears to be efficacious to improve muscular strength (about 35.5%) and CD4 cell count (about 26.1%), but not muscle mass of HIV-infected patients. Effects upon strength were greater in studies with higher quality and among trials with longer RT and HAART.

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