Physiological Effects of a Physical Training Program in Children with Exercise-Induced Asthma

Twelve boys with atopic asthma, ages 9-14 years, were divided equally into exercise and control groups. Identical measurements were made before and after a 3-month trial period during which the exercise group was trained. The trained group, but not the control group, showed significant improvements in parameters of physical fitness including maximum oxygen consumption (V̇O₂max) and peak running velocity during the maximal treadmill test (p>0.05). Treadmill velocity at the lactate tumpoint was greater and heart rate during submaximal exercise was lower in the trained subjects after the trial period. Subjective and objective findings (less use of medication, fewer asthmatic attacks, increased physical activity) suggested that clinical asthma improved with training. However exercise-induced asthma (EIA), measured by the airway's response to a standardized treadmill run, did not alter with training.