INTRODUCTION: Exercise training has been shown in numerous studies to improve lung function and asthma control in children with asthma. Swimming has been shown to be of benefit in children with asthma, but which form of exercise is better for asthmatics has not been determined to date. The aim of this study was to examine if swimming improved lung function and asthma symptoms in asthmatic children when compared with different forms of exercise and a control group. METHODS: Subjects with asthma were randomly assigned to either one of three different exercise training groups (swimming, football, and basketball) or a control group. Spirometry was performed before and after and the subjects were asked to keep asthma diaries and perform daily peak flow measurements. RESULTS: 41 children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 16 participated in the study. After completing the training, children across all three exercise programs had significantly higher forced vital capacity (FVC) percentage values when compared to the control group. The swimming group demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage peak expiratory flow (PEF) following the exercise program when compared with the control group (78.3 +/- 9.3 versus 89.0 +/- 14.9, p = 0.04). All children on exercise training programs reported an improvement in their asthma symptoms via asthma diaries. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a swimming training program is more beneficial in terms of peak flow measurements when compared with other exercise training programs.

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