Effect of 8 Weeks of Incremental Aerobic Training on Inflammatory Mediators, Cardiorespiratory Indices, and Functional Capacity in Obese Children With Bronchial Asthma.

PURPOSE: To appraise the effects of incremental aerobic training (IAT) on systemic inflammatory mediators, cardiorespiratory indices, and functional capacity in obese children with bronchial asthma. METHODS: This study included 30 children with asthma (age = 8-16 y) allocated randomly into either the control group (n = 15; received the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program) or IAT group (n = 15; engaged in 8 weeks of IAT in addition to the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program). The systemic inflammatory mediators (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6), cardiorespiratory indices (peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, maximum heart rate, heart rate recovery at 1 min after exercises, and oxygen pulse), and functional capacity (represented by 6-min walk test) were analyzed pretreatment and posttreatment. RESULTS: A significant reduction in the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 and increase in peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, maximum heart rate, and heart rate recovery at 1 minute after exercises was observed among the IAT group as compared with the control group. In addition, the IAT group covered a longer distance in the 6-minute walk test than the control group, suggesting favorable functional capacity. CONCLUSION: The study results imply that IAT has the potential to improve the inflammatory profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional capacity of obese children with bronchial asthma.

Prospective Effects of Manual Diaphragmatic Release and Thoracic Lymphatic Pumping in Childhood Asthma.

BACKGROUND: Manual noninvasive respiratory techniques have traditionally been used to treat respiratory pathologies. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the diaphragmatic release technique and the thoracic lymphatic pump technique versus conventional respiratory retraining in children with asthma. METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design, 60 children with asthma were allocated to undergo the diaphragmatic release technique (n = 20), thoracic lymphatic pump technique (n = 20), or conventional respiratory retraining (n = 20) in this study. Serum immunoglobulin E levels, diaphragmatic mobility, pulmonary function, and P(A-a)O2 were assessed before and after 12 treatment sessions that were conducted over nonconsecutive days in a 4-week program. RESULTS: After 12 treatments, the changes in the serum immunoglobulin E level for each group was not significantly different from the other groups. Compared with conventional respiratory retraining, the diaphragmatic release technique was associated with a significant improvement in FVC (P = .001) and FEV1 (P = .002); the thoracic lymphatic pump technique showed no differences. With regard to diaphragmatic mobility, both the diaphragmatic release technique and the thoracic lymphatic pump technique yielded significantly favorable effects when compared with conventional respiratory retraining (P < .001 and P = .01, respectively). Further, no significant between-group differences were detected in terms of the P(A-a)O2 (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: The thoracic lymphatic pump technique and conventional respiratory retraining approaches were helpful interventions that could be used to alleviate the symptoms of childhood asthma. Nevertheless, the diaphragmatic release technique was a potentially more effective intervention.