Effects of physical exercise on clinical and functional parameters in children with asthma

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of regular exercise on asthma symptoms, score for asthma medication requirement, quality of life and pulmonary function tests in children with asthma. Materials and Methods: Seventy three children (32 males and 41 females) with asthma were participated from 17 different schools. At the beginning of the study, pulmonary function test was performed to the subjects along with the questionnaire of their life quality, current medication and symptom scores. Mean age of the participants was 12 +/- 2,3 years (7-16). Among these 73 students, 27 had practiced in the swimming group, 26 in the street basketball group, 11 in the athleticism group and 9 in the badminton group before participating in the study. Student's t-test was used to compare the independent variables. Results: Symptom scores were significantly decreased in patients who practiced in the street basketball group and badminton group. Quality of life was significantly increased in patients who practiced in the swimming group and athleticism group. There was a significant increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second at the end of the study when compared from baseline measurements in swimming, badminton and street basketball groups. Conclusion: We observed beneficial effects of exercise on quality of life and pulmonary function in children with asthma. Regular exercise should be encouraged as part of childhood asthma management.