ABSTRACT
The influence of physical training on the cardiopulmonary system and on lung function of asthmatic children was determined in a controlled study. The children were all indoor patients of the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos, Switzerland. 36 children at the age of 10 to 16 years entered the study. They were placed into either a "free running group", a "swimming group" or a "control group." The children of the training groups underwent a training of at least 10 units of 30 minutes each in 3 weeks. The control group did not participate in any regular physical training. Heart rate was measured before and after a bicycle ergometer exercise of 5 minutes at 2.5 watts/kg body weight. This was repeated at the end of the study. In the "free running group" a significant decrease of the heart rate at rest (p less than 0.05) and at the end of bicycle ergometer exercise (p less than 0.01) could be seen. In the "swimming group" the decrease of the latter was significant (p less than 0.05). In both groups an increase in work tolerance could be demonstrated, but not in the "control group." In all three groups an improvement of lung function (IVC, FEV1) was found, but it was not significant in any of the groups. The small improvement might be due to a reduction in allergen exposure and better medical treatment. The study confirms the possibility of physical training of children with asthma even if exercise-induced asthmatic signs and symptoms are present.
