title: Children with asthma and physical exercise: effects of an exercise programme.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a physical exercise programme for children with asthma on an outpatient basis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intervention study: a randomized pretest-post-test control group design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven children with clinically diagnosed asthma participated in the intervention study, including 34 boys and 13 girls, from 8 to 13 years of age (mean age 10.6).
  
  
  METHODS
  The physical exercise programme consisted of regular group exercises and home exercises for a period of three months. It was based on a theoretical model describing the relationships between physical competence (condition), perceived physical competence, self-esteem and coping behaviour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximum incremental exercise test, endurance test, the Self-Perception Profile for Children (CBSK), the Asthma Coping Test (ACBT), lung function and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant effects of the intervention programme on physical condition. There was a significant improvement of 15 W on the maximal workload (Wmax) (p < 0.001), of 7% on VO2max (oxygen uptake) (p = 0.002) and a significant decrease on heart rate submaximal of 6% (p = 0.001). There was also a significant improvement of 50% in running time measured with the endurance test (p = 0.021). Furthermore, a significant effect of the intervention was seen on coping with asthma (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that participation in the physical exercise programme not only enhanced physical fitness, but also improved coping behaviour with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. N.vanveldhoven@fss.uu.nl
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: van Veldhoven
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vermeer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bogaard
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hessels
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wijnroks
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Colland
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: van Essen-Zandvliet
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome