Abstract
We studied the effect of running 3km/day, 4 days/week for 6 weeks on 15 children ages 7-14 years who had severe asthma. All took oral theophylline and inhaled beclomethasone and sympathomimetics and 2 took prednisone. We studied each subject before and after a 4 week control period and after 6 weeks of running with the following: spirometry, body plethysmography, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), ventilatory muscle endurance as the sustained inspiratory pressure (SIP) by a new technique we have developed, a maximum exercise stress test on a bicycle ergometer followed by repeat spirometry and body plethysmography and a 12 minute run on a different day.
The distance run in 12 minutes improved significantly without changes in pulmonary function or airways reactivity. The ventilatory muscle strength and endurance was initially greater than normal and did not increase. We conclude that running did not improve the pulmonary mechanics but did increase the specific muscle and cardiovascular fitness of these asthmatic children.
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Nickerson, B., Bautista, D., Namey, M. et al. 1704 RUNNING IMPROVES FITNESS IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN WITHOUT CHANGING AIRWAYS REACTIVITY OR VENTILATORY MUSCLE FUNCTION. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 727 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01723
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01723
