Purpose: To assess the quality of the available evidence on the effect of exercise for the improvement of lung function in healthy children and adolescents. Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies examining the effects of regular exercise on spirometric parameters of healthy children and adolescents aged ≤18 years. Results: Within the exercise groups, there were significant improvements in forced vital capacity (mean difference: 0.17 L; 95% confidence interval, 0.07 to 0.26; P < .05) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (mean difference: 0.14 L; 95% confidence interval, 0.06 to 0.22; P < .05). Results were consistent across different age groups and duration of interventions. In the between-group analysis, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, and peak expiratory flow were higher in the exercise group compared with the nonexercise group, but the differences did not reach statistical relevance. There was significant statistical heterogeneity between studies. Conclusion: Regular exercise has the potential to improve lung function parameters in healthy children and adolescents; however, the small number of studies and the heterogeneity between them raise concern about the quality of the currently available evidence. These findings bring to attention the need for well-designed trials addressing this important public health issue.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.