Back in the day, parents would shoot off letters to their kid’s school, trying to wiggle them out of PE (ie, physical education) classes when they found out their child had asthma. Their family physician probably signed a medical certificate to support the decision too, but it appears that evidence is mounting to show that children with asthma can actually benefit from some regular exercise—provided it is done the right way.
Asthma in children and adolescents is a common concern, often accompanied by worries about physical activity. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of exercise for young individuals with asthma and debunk some of the common myths that have lasted for decades.
Understanding Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. In children, these symptoms can be particularly challenging, impacting daily activities and overall well-being.
Exercise and Asthma
Contrary to common belief, regular exercise can be a game-changer for children with asthma. Instead of worsening symptoms, certain types of exercise can strengthen the lungs, reduce inflammation, and improve overall lung capacity. This translates to increased endurance, reduced respiratory effort, and improved cardiovascular fitness.
Benefits of Exercise
- Building Endurance
Over time, exercise helps the airways build tolerance, making everyday activities like walking upstairs easier - Reducing Inflammation
It may sound counterintuitive, but exercise can decrease inflammation by reducing inflammatory proteins, making airways more responsive to physical activity - Improving Lung Capacity
Regular exercise optimizes the lungs’ ability to use oxygen, making breathing easier in daily life - Strengthening Muscles
Strong muscles enhance the efficiency of everyday activities - Enhancing Cardiovascular Fitness
Exercise conditions the heart, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery
Types of Exercises
- Breathing Exercises
In addition to physical activity, breathing exercises play a crucial role. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing and nasal breathing can open airways, making breathing easier - Breathing Techniques
Respiratory training, including inspiratory muscle training, helps enhance breathing control, reduce dyspnea, and manage respiratory effort during exercise and asthma attacks - Structured Exercise Programs
While there are no one-size-fits-all guidelines, structured exercise programs tailored for young asthma patients have shown significant benefits. Aerobic exercises, resistance training, and flexibility exercises, when done regularly, contribute to improved wellness - Personalized Training Sessions
Individualized exercise plans based on frequency, intensity, time, type, and progression are key. These plans focus on improving tolerance, joint mobility, muscular resistance, and overall muscle strength - Posture and Balance
Exercises aimed at maintaining posture and balance, such as progressive difficulty movements, contribute to overall physical well-being
Tips to Reduce Exercise-Induced Asthma (or also referred to as EIA)
- Warm-up and Cool-down
Always warm up before and cool down after exercise - Choose Activities Wisely
Opt for activities that don’t expose the child to cold, dry air - Short Bursts of Exercise
Consider activities with short bursts of exercise rather than prolonged efforts
The bottom line? Kids with asthma should totally embrace exercise! It’s high time we ditch the outdated myths and encourage physical activity for children with asthma as a positive step towards better health. Research has shown that regular exercise doesn’t just ease symptoms – it can reduce the need for medical interventions too.
Link to the full article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10519188/
Reference: Privitera A, Privitera S. Physical exercise in asthma adolescents: a concept review. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2023;18(1):924. Published 2023 Sep 1. doi:10.4081/mrm.2023.924
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