The comparison of the pulmonary function parametres in asthmatic children with and without physical education programme

ABSTRACTTütün E., The comparison of the pulmonary functional parameters in asthmaticchildren with and without physical education programme. Abant zzet BaysalUniversity Health Sciences Institue MSc Thesis in Physical Therapy andRehabilitation, Bolu, 2005.In this study, we aimed to establish the role of upper and lower extremity exercisetraining in children with mild and moderate asthma. It was also intended todetermine the effect of this training on respiratory functions, physical fitness, andfunctional capacity. Children who were diagnosed with mild and moderate asthmawere selected from the pediatric asthma clinic of Abant Izzet Baysal UniversityMedical School. Forty four patients who were referred from pediatric asthma clinicto Abant zzet Baysal University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation School forphysical exercise training program were included in the study and these patients wererandomized to lower extremity training group (n=15), upper extremity training group(n=15), and control group (n=14). History, symptoms, physical fitness tests,respiratory functions, cardiopulmonary and functional capacities, musculoskeletalsystem parameters of the training and control groups were evaluated at the beginningof the study. These measurements were repeated at the end of the 8 weeks. Traininggroups were divided into two different physical exercise training program; namelyupper and lower extremity exercises. This physical exercise training comprised of45-60 minutes, three-weekly sessions that lasted for 8 weeks. Control group didn?tparticipated any exercise programs. Evaluation after the study period showed thatfunctional capacity, muscle strength, flexibility, physical fitness levels, thoracicexpansion and respiratory function parameters increased significantly in both of thetraining groups (p<0.05). The improvements in body composition were alsosignificant (p<0.05). Six minutes walking distance and changes in body compositionwere significantly increased in lower extremity group with respect to upper extremitygroup (p<0.05). Modified pull-ups test, which is used to determine the endurance ofarm and shoulder muscles against time, were significantly increased in the upperextremity group with respect to lower extremity group (p<0.05). Respiratory functiontest parameters, FVC, FEV1, and PEF, were significantly increased in all groups(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between three groups in terms of theseparameters (p>0.05). However, FEF25-75 which reflects the small airways wasincreased only in the upper extremity group (p<0.05). With respect to these findings,it was shown that upper and lower extremity exercises were complementary to eachother, and asthma rehabilitation programs which will be planned in children mustinclude the combination of respiratory exercises and physical exercises. It can besuggested that physical exercise training programs were clinically beneficial.Key words: Asthma, physical exercise training, respiratory function parameters.