The effect of exercise on functional capacity in patients with moderate to severe asthma

Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise program including breathing, aerobic and strengthening exercises on patients? lung functions, exercise capacity and quality of life in moderate and severe asthma patients.Material-Method: 15 moderate and severe asthma patients who were followed by DEU School of Medicine Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases and did not recover clinically and functionally despite optimal treatment were included in the study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups as 8 exercise and 7 control group patients. Demographic features, clinical symptoms and lung functions of the patients were recorded. Maximum oxygen expenditure as a result of cardiopulmonary exercise test which was done by cycle ergometer was calculated. Patients? perceived dyspnea and leg fatigue severity during the test were assessed with Modified Borg Scale. Disease specific quality of life was measured by St. George?s Respiratory Questionnaire and general health-related quality of life was measured by WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire. Patients of exercise group were followed with a 12-week supervised exercise program. Control group patients did not receive any exercise.Results: Mean age of exercise group was 56.12±6.51 years and it was 50.28±13.42 years for control group and mean durations of asthma diagnose were 18.75±14.09 and 16.28±11.84 years, respectively. While improvement was obtained in respiratory symptoms in exercise group after treatment there was no change in control group and it was found that control group patients had more attacks (p=0.02). After treatment statistically non-significant increases were found in lung functions of exercise group patients (p>0.05). Statistically significant decreases in PEF and FVC parameters of lung functions were recorded in control group after follow-up (p<0.05). In exercise group a statistically non-significant increase was found in peak work load calculated in exercise test after treatment (p>0.05). Again in exercise group after follow-up statistically significant decreases in effort heart rate, dyspnea and leg fatigue severity and peripheral oxygen saturation values were found in comparison to pre-treatment. No change was found in control group patients (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire in both groups after follow-up (p>0.05). While statistically significant increases in activity and impact subgroups and total score of SGRQ were found in exercise group (p<0.05), there was no statistically significant change in control group after follow-up (p>0.05).Conclusion: It was found that exercise program including breathing, aerobic and strengthening exercises relieved clinic and symptoms of the disease and improved functional capacity and disease-related quality of life in moderate to severe asthma patients who did not recover in spite of optimal treatment.