Individualized aerobic and high intensity training for asthmatic children in an exercise readaptation program. Is training always helpful for better adaptation to exercise?

• Published in: Chest Vol. 99; no. 3; p. 579
• Main Authors: Varray, A L, Mercier, J G, Terral, C M, Prefaut, C G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1991
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Asthma - physiopathology; Child; Exercise; Exercise Test; Female; Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; Forced Expiratory Volume; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Male; Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Education and Training - methods; Physical Fitness; Respiration - physiology; Swimming; Vital Capacity
• ISSN: 0012-3692
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.99.3.579

In order to define the role of individualized training intensity in a conditioning program for asthmatic children, we have trained seven asthmatics (age = 11.4 +/- 1.8 years) at their ventilatory threshold (VTh) intensity level for a three-month period (aerobic training) and at maximal intensity also for three months (high intensity training). VTh is the point at which a nonlinear increase of VE occurs. Another group of seven asthmatics (age = 11.4 +/- 1.5) served as control subjects. Cardiopulmonary fitness was determined on a cycle ergometer before and after each training session. This study demonstrated that aerobic training, correctly adapted to the child's physical ability, induces the following: (1) a rapid and marked cardiovascular fitness increase; and (2) a decrease in VE over a given work range so that VTh is increased. This is of great importance because hyperventilation is a major determinant of exercise-induced bronchospasm. In contrast, even if high intensity training is well tolerated in an indoor swimming pool, the long-term effects are unsuitable for asthmatic children because the decrease of VTh will involve an increase of hyperventilation, even when exercise is performed at submaximal intensity.