Respiratory and thoracoabdominal motion pattern at rest and after sub-maximum effort in children with asthma

Asthma involves an increase in airway resistance even in periods between attacks, which generates changes in thoracoabdominal kinematics. The aim of the present study was to detect these adaptations at rest and after physical effort. Evaluations were performed using optoelectronic plethysmography at rest and immediately after physical effort of moderate intensity. Thirty-two children and adolescents participated in the present study (16 asthma- AG and 16 health controls-CG). After exercise, the AG exhibited a less variability of respiratory variables. The kinematic behavior of thoracoabdominal motion was the inverse of that found in healthy controls. These findings suggest mechanical and physiological adaptations to minimize the possible turbulence of the airflow and reduce the impact of airway resistance during physical exertion. Moreover, these changes are found even at rest and in patients whose asthma is clinically controlled.