Two Years‘ Follow‐up of Asthmatic Boys Participating in a Physical Activity Programme

Abstract

Eleven boys with bronchial asthma, mean age 11.2 years, particpated in a 20-month long physical activity programme. The training was performed in an ordinary indoor gymnasium for one hour twice a week. No drugs were given prior to the training sessions. Cardiorespiratory function and dimensions and maximal aerobic capacity were determined before, during and after the training period. The respiratory and circulatory dimensions increased as expected during and after the training period. The respiratory and circulatory dimensions increased as expected during the observation period and after correction for the influence of growth no changes were seen in the variables studied. Nor did the training group differ significantly in any respect from a group of nine asthmatic boys not trained. There was only a slight but not significant increase in the maximal exygen uptake and the ventilatory coefficient in the training group as compared to the non training group. After a one-week winter-camp with high exercise intensity there was a rise in the total ventilation, the ventilatory coefficient and the maximal work performed but the maximal oxygen uptake was not affected. All boys showed a very good ability to participate in the physical activity programme at approximately the same level as the physical education given at school.

Exercise training in children with asthma: a systematic review

“…The ventilatory threshold, as well as the maximum oxygen pulse (O 2 pulse max ) increased in all studies that assessed these parameters 2 26 48 49. Two of six studies revealed a significant increase in maximal minute ventilation (VE max ) in the intervention group 2 28 33 35 48 49. Maximum heart rate (HR max ),26 28 33 – 35 48 and maximum power (W max ) 2 26 33 35 were significantly improved following exercise training in half of the studies.…”

“…Two of six studies revealed a significant increase in maximal minute ventilation (VE max ) in the intervention group 2 28 33 35 48 49. Maximum heart rate (HR max ),26 28 33 – 35 48 and maximum power (W max ) 2 26 33 35 were significantly improved following exercise training in half of the studies. Working capacity, defined as percentage of the individual's maximal aerobic power, improved in one of three studies reporting this parameter 30 43 47…”

“…The cardiorespiratory parameters were measured with an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer or treadmill,2 26 28 30 – 33 37 39 41 43 47 – 49 5/6 minute continuous running test,34 a steady-state submaximal exercise test35 or at resting condition 45. Ten studies determined the training effect on maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max ) (online supplementary Web only file 1) 2 26 28 32 – 34 37 41 48 49.…”

“…Four of the six studies that showed improvements in VO 2max after training, had a training intensity at the ventilatory threshold for at least 60 min 26 28 48 49. The studies that did not show improvements in VO 2max after training had intensities that were not well described,33 35 low,32 or at the ventilatory threshold for only 30 min 41. In addition to a training intensity at the ventilatory threshold the studies that improved VO 2max with exercise training, had at least 120 min exercise per week, consisted of at least two training sessions and had a training programme duration of at least 3 months 2 26 28 48 49…”

Effects of physical training in asthma: a systematic review

“…The following outcome measures were looked for: bronchodilator usage, episodes of wheeze, GraV-Lonnevig et al 6 Study was not truly randomised. Allocation was based on who lived closer to the gymnasium and this group was included in the exercise training arm.…”