First author [ref.] | Patient demographics | Intervention | Significant outcomes |
Counil [36] | 9 versus 7 control Mean age 13 years Atopic with bronchodilator reversibility | 3×weekly 45 min, 1-min sprint at work rate at AT followed by 4 min recovery cycling | Improved V′O2peak and AT |
Moreira [37] | 17 versus 17 control Children aged 12.7±3.5 years Atopic On maintenance OCS | 50-min twice-weekly training session for 3 months 30–35 min submaximal training | Improved pAQLQ Reduced total IgE and mite-specific IgE |
Onur [17] | 15 with 15 asthmatic controls and 15 healthy controls | 8-week exercise training intervention | Decreased oxidant stress markers Increased antioxidant enzyme activity Improved lung function |
Willeboordse [34] | 43 with 44 control Median age 12.3 years Median BMI 25; 53% of group obese | 60 min 2×week at 60–75% maximal heart rate for 6 months | Improved asthma control and quality of life, reduced weight and improved FVC |
Lu [38] | 12 versus 14 healthy adolescents Mean BMI 22 | Acute exercise challenge followed by 60 min thrice weekly for 8 weeks | Reduced glucocorticoid receptor expression in several lymphocyte subsets after an acute challenge and 8 weeks of training |
Abdelbasset [39] | 19 with 19 control Children aged 8–12 years with moderate persistent asthma | 40 min thrice weekly training sessions at 50–70% maximum heart rate for 10 weeks | Improved FEV1 and FVC Improved V′O2peak Improved 6MWT |
Lucas [40] | 86 asthma, 142 nonasthmatic obese Mean BMI percentile 98.14 Mean age 11.26 years | 40 min physiologist-designed exercise weekly | Reduced weight and improved V′O2peak |
AT: anaerobic threshold; V′O2peak: peak oxygen uptake; OCS: oral corticosteroids; pAQLQ: paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; Ig: immunoglobulin; BMI: body mass index; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; 6MWT: 6-min walk test.