Exercise improves lung function and habitual activity in children with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Increases in exercise capacity over a two-month period resulted in significantly improved lung function and self-reported habitual activity. Longer, controlled trials are needed to develop individualized exercise recommendations.

Longitudinal relationship between physical activity and lung health in patients with cystic fibrosis

“…Participants enrolled in the study were younger and had a higher FEV1 than the remaining eligible clinic patients not recruited that year. Self-selection by those patients with mild disease is not uncommon in CF research studies [15], and in this case they would be healthier and less likely to have a chest exacerbation, and therefore eligible to participate in the activity study. Conversely, the included population represented the majority of patients followed in our CF centre and demonstrating a positive effect of physical activity on lung function decline in patients having less severe lung function abnormalities highlights the opportunity to utilise enhancing physical activity as an early intervention strategy.…”

“…Thus far, reduced HPA has been reported to be related to lung function decline in females with CF over a short observation period [8] and adults with CF have been shown to accumulate less HPA than their non-CF peers [13]. While exercise training has been recommended for inclusion into CF routine therapy [14], issues such as the burden of disease [9] and inadequate adherence [15] have made it a challenge to incorporate into a treatment programme. Knowing that focusing patients and parents on the importance of regular activity could potentially change habitual levels over time, we sought to study prospectively the long-term relationship between changes in HPA levels and lung function in patients with CF.…”

Indicators of pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis: A Delphi survey of patients and health professionals

“…Health related quality of life (HRQoL) worsens during PEX and more severe exacerbations have a greater negative impact on HRQoL [1,8]. Most people with CF die of respiratory failure which has typically been induced by a PEX [9][10][11].…”

Static Hyperinflation Is Associated With Decreased Peak Exercise Performance in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

“…Physical activity contributes considerably to improvements in lung function, conditioning, bone density, and quality of life. [1][2][3] Peak exercise capacity in CF is influenced by several factors, including age, sex, nutritional status, lung function, skeletal muscle mass, endurance, and respiratory muscle strength. 4 -7 Peak exercise capacity is one of the most reliable markers of prognosis in CF.…”

“…4 -7 Peak exercise capacity is one of the most reliable markers of prognosis in CF. 8 -10 Children with moderately severe CF lung disease have impaired lung function, as measured by decreased FEV 1 . Air flow obstruction and air trapping cause static hyperinflation, quantified by the relationship between residual volume and total lung capacity (RV/TLC).…”