Effect of a combined exercise program on physical fitness, lung function, and quality of life in patients with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Asthmatic patients may benefit from exercise training, although the effects of a combined aerobic and resistance training program are still poorly investigated in children and adolescents.

Objective: To analyze the effects of a combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) program on aerobic fitness, lung function, asthma control and quality of life in a group of mild-moderate asthmatic children with exercise symptoms.

Methods: This was a 12-week randomized controlled trial including children and adolescents diagnosed with mild-moderate asthma and presenting exercise-induced symptoms. The intervention group (IG) performed the exercise training (resistance and aerobic) 3 days/week, for 60 minutes. The control group (CG) followed routine clinical orientations. The main outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, lung function, quality of life, asthma control, and functional tests after 3 months of the intervention.

Results: Fifty-three patients (IG = 25 and CG = 28) with a mean age of 11.5 ± 2.6 years were included. No significant differences were found between groups regarding lung function, asthma control, quality of life, and functional tests. Ventilatory equivalent for oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold (P = .025; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.083), peak oxygen consumption (P = .008; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.116) and test duration (P = .014; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.1) presented greater improvements in the IG. In addition, improvements were observed in leg press (P < .001; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.36), hamstring curl (P = .001; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.217), high row (P = .003; ${\eta }_p^2$ = .167), low row (P = .009; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.128) and quadriceps leg extension (P = .015; ${\eta }_p^2$ = 0.108) in the IG.

Conclusion: Combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) improved cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in children and adolescents with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms.

Keywords: asthma; exercise; pediatrics; resistance training.