Psychological and Respiratory Physiological Effects of a Physical Exercise Programme on Boys with Severe Asthma

Abstract

Psychological and respiratory physiological effects of a physical exercise programme on boys with severe asthma. Acta Paediatr Scand 80: 1058, 1991. Ten boys 9-12 years of age with severe perennial asthma participated in a physical exercise programme lasting 8 months. Pulmonary function and psychological tests were performed before training, immediately after, and one year after the end of the exercise programme. Static lung volumes, flow-volume variables and histamine tolerance were used as indicators of pulmonary function. Ego structure, body image, social development and concentration capacity were used as indicators of personality development. Before the study, the group had high FRC (pt0.05) and RV (p<O.OOl), low FEV,, MEFSO and MEF25 (allp<0.001) and low histamine tolerance. They showed marked disturbances in their personality development with low scores in psychological variables. During the training period, MEF5O and MEF25 increased slightly (p < 0.01). Marked improvement was observed in all psychological variables (p< 0.001). The positive effects remained during the following year. The marked and lasting improvement in personality development was regarded as an essential factor behind the more modest positive clinical and pulmonary function changes. The results emphasize the importance of including exercise programmes in the treatment of children with asthma.

RETRACTED: &lt;i&gt;Effect of aerobic training on airflow obstruction, vo2 max, EIB in stable asthmatic children&lt;/i&gt;

“…Thus, Strunk et al [25] showed that the wide variability in aerobic performance in a group of 90 children with moderate and severe asthma was mainly related to the degree of social and disease adjustment. Engström et al [26] in a group of 10 severely asthmatic children submitted to physical training showed that only psychological modifications correlated significantly with aerobic improvement. Thus, individual variations in acceptance and knowledge of the disease seem to influence the usual level of physical activity in asthmatic children, and therefore their degree of fitness.…”

“…However, we did not find a significant reduction in the prevalence of a positive EIB test with training, regardless of whether or not there was a positive response (Figure 2). Another more plausible hypothesis is that the improvement was related to a higher degree of acceptance and level of self-care in the least fit patients who usually have negative attitudes toward their disease and exertion [25,26]. Thus, Strunk et al [25] showed that the wide variability in aerobic performance in a group of 90 children with moderate and severe asthma was mainly related to the degree of social and disease adjustment.…”

Has Aerobic Exercise Anti-inflammatory Effect for Asthma?

“…This gradual change of concept represent a big advance against old paradigms, and is based in a growing number of clinical and experimental studies showing that the regular practice of aerobic exercises in appropriate volume and intensity results in several physical and psychological beneficial effects to asthmatic patients [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…increase in ventilatory capacity) and asthmarelated symptoms "asthma-control" (e.g. dyspnea, exercise-induced bronchospasm or peak expiratory flow variability) [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In addition a decrease of daily use of inhaled steroids has been reported, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of exercise on asthmatic lungs [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…dyspnea, exercise-induced bronchospasm or peak expiratory flow variability) [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In addition a decrease of daily use of inhaled steroids has been reported, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of exercise on asthmatic lungs [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. This hypothesis was further supported by recent findings from Gonçalves et al and Mendes et al, demonstrating that aerobic exercise decreased the levels of exhaled nitric oxide, an established pro-inflammatory mediator in asthma, and also the number of eosinophils in induced sputum in moderate/severe persistent asthmatic patients [13,14].…”