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

To appraise the effects of incremental aerobic training (IAT) on systemic inflammatory mediators, cardiorespiratory indices, and functional capacity in obese children with bronchial asthma.
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.
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.
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.