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The effect of a home exercise programme in children with cystic fibrosis and asthma
Insights
Unsupervised home exercise programs showed limited benefits for children with asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). Poor compliance may have hindered training effects, suggesting supervised programs are more effective for improving physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Exercise Physiology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) significantly impact children's respiratory health and exercise tolerance.
- Optimizing physical activity is crucial for managing these conditions in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of an unsupervised home exercise program on lung function, respiratory muscle function, and exercise tolerance in children with asthma and CF.
- To compare the outcomes of home-based exercise interventions with matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-nine children with asthma and 86 with CF were assessed.
- A subset of participants (37 asthma, 41 CF) engaged in a 3-month unsupervised home exercise program; others served as controls.
- Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle function, and exercise tolerance were measured before and after the intervention period.
Main Results:
- No significant improvements in pulmonary function were observed after 3 months of the home exercise program.
- Participant compliance with the unsupervised program decreased significantly over time.
- A previously supervised program demonstrated increased fitness and peak pressures in children with asthma.
Conclusions:
- Unsupervised home exercise programs appear to have limited value for improving outcomes in children with asthma and CF.
- Low compliance rates may explain the lack of significant training effects.
- Supervised exercise programs and engaging play activities are recommended for maximizing the benefits of physical activity in these pediatric groups.
Abstract:
Sixty-nine children with asthma and 86 with cystic fibrosis (CF) were assessed for lung function, respiratory muscle function and exercise tolerance. Thirty-seven with asthma and 41 with CF subsequently undertook an at home exercise program and the remainder were matched controls. There was no significant change in pulmonary function after 3 months of the exercise program. Compliance with the program decreased markedly towards the end of the 3 months and this lack of compliance may have contributed to the failure to show any significant training effect. A previously supervised program showed increased fitness and increased peak pressures in children with asthma following intensive exercise. There appears limited value in promoting unsupervised home exercise programs for children with CF and asthma. In those groups of children who will benefit with increased physical activity, supervised programs and more interesting play activities may need to be organized to obtain optimal benefit.