title: Aerobic capacity and skeletal muscle function in children with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral muscle strength and endurance are decreased in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases and seem to contribute to patients' exercise intolerance. However, the authors are not aware of any studies evaluating peripheral muscle function in children with asthma. It seems to be implied that children with asthma have lower aerobic fitness, but there are limited studies comparing the aerobic capacity of children with and without asthma. The present study aimed to evaluate muscle strength and endurance in children with persistent asthma and their association with aerobic capacity and inhaled corticosteroid consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty children with mild persistent asthma (MPA) or severe persistent asthma (SPA) (N=20 each) and 20 children without asthma (control group) were evaluated. Upper (pectoralis and latissimus dorsi) and lower (quadriceps) muscle strength and endurance were assessed, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed. Inhaled corticosteroid consumption during the last 6 and 24 months was also quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with SPA presented a reduction in peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) (28.2±8.1 vs 34.7±6.9 ml/kg/min; p<0.01) and quadriceps endurance (43.1±6.7 vs 80.9±11.9 repetitions; p<0.05) compared with the control group, but not the MPA group (31.5±6.1 ml/kg/min and 56.7±47.7 repetitions respectively; p>0.05). Maximal upper and lower muscle strength was preserved in children with both mild and severe asthma (p>0.05). Finally, the authors observed that lower muscle endurance weakness was not associated with reductions in either peak VO(2) (r=0.22, p>0.05) or corticosteroid consumption (r=-0.31, p>0.05) in children with asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that cardiopulmonary exercise and lower limb muscle endurance should be a priority during physical training programs for children with severe asthma.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 455, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiane
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Ana Paula Beltran Moschione
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pastorino
authors.forename: José Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santarém
authors.forename: Milton Arruda
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Cristina Miuki Abe
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Celso Ricardo
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids