Feasibility of exercising adults with asthma: a randomized pilot study

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Aerobic exercise offers potential clinical benefits for asthma patients, but underlying mechanisms require further elucidation.
• Understanding the cellular, molecular, and functional impacts of exercise is crucial for optimizing asthma management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention in adults with mild-moderate asthma.
• To lay the groundwork for a larger clinical trial investigating the effects of exercise on asthma.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen adults with mild-moderate asthma were randomized into a usual care (sedentary) or a 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise group.
• The exercise group engaged in a walking program (60-75% HRmax), with adherence monitored via heart rate monitors and logs.
• Functional measures (lung function, asthma control scores), fitness, and biomarkers (cell differentials, ECP) were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• 16 participants completed the study; the exercise group showed 80% adherence and a trend toward improved fitness.
• Both exercise and control groups demonstrated improvements in asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) scores.
• No significant changes were observed in lung function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC), cell differentials, or eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) between groups.

Conclusions:

• A 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program appears safe and feasible for adults with mild-moderate asthma, potentially improving asthma control and fitness.
• These findings support the protocol's feasibility for a larger clinical trial to further investigate exercise's effects on asthma.
• Aerobic exercise may be a valuable component of asthma management without exacerbating symptoms.