Physical therapy and exercise-induced bronchospasm

Most asthmatic children develop a significant degree of bronchospasm from exercise which restricts their active participation in outdoor play and sports and sometimes leads to many social and psychological problems. No specific physiological or immunological factors have yet been found to explain the basis of this exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). It is also unrelated to age, sex, or severity of asthma. Some investigators have hypothesized that EIB may be a conditioned response resulting from the association between the physical exertion and breathing difficulty which is frequently experienced by these children during their asthmatic attacks. Physical activity programs, organized around themes of progressive and interval training periods, may be quite helpful in reducing the intensity of EIB.