The effects of a swimming intervention for children with asthma

  1. Jeng-Shing WANG1,*,
  2. Wen-Ping HUNG2

Article first published online: 17 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2009.01567.x

Issue

Respirology

Respirology

Volume 14, Issue 6, pages 838–842, August 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

WANG, J.-S. and HUNG, W.-P. (2009), The effects of a swimming intervention for children with asthma. Respirology, 14: 838–842. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2009.01567.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Medicine, Taipei Medical University—Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, and

  2. 2

    Department of Physical Education, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

*Dr Jeng-Shing Wang, 166 Min-Shiang Street, Kaohsiung, 800, Taiwan. Email: wangjs6@hotmail.com

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 AUG 2009
  2. Article first published online: 17 AUG 2009
  3. Received 24 October 2008; invited to revise 10 December 2008; revised 14 January 2009; accepted 14 January 2009 (Associate Editor: Ian Yang).

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (161K)

Keywords:

  • asthma;
  • peak expiratory flow monitoring;
  • pulmonary function testing;
  • severity of asthma;
  • swimming

ABSTRACT

Background and objective:  Asthma is a common paediatric airway disease with increasing prevalence. Studies comparing swimming with other sports have found that swimming is unlikely to provoke unstable asthma but possible benefits are not defined. This study investigated the benefits of a 6 week swimming intervention on pulmonary function tests (PFT), PEF and severity of asthma in children.

Methods:  Young asthmatics were randomly assigned to the experimental or the control group, with 15 subjects in each group. In addition to regular treatment for asthma, the experimental group received swimming training for 6 weeks. PFT, PEF and severity of asthma were measured.

Results:  There was a significant improvement (P < 0.01) in PEF in the experimental group compared with the control group (330 L/min, 95% CI: 309–351 vs. 252 L/min, 95% CI: 235–269) after the swimming intervention. There was also a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in the severity of asthma in the experimental group compared with the control group.

Conclusions:  These data suggest that a swimming programme for asthmatic children can improve some disease parameters (PEF and the severity of asthma). Swimming may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for the child or adolescent with asthma.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (161K)