The aim of this study was to determine if swimming improved lung function and asthma symptoms in asthmatic children when compared to other forms of exercise and a control group.
Forty-One children were randomly assigned to either one of three different exercise training groups (swimming, football, or basketball) or a control group.
Spirometry was performed before and after, and subjects were asked to keep asthma diaries and perform daily peak flow measurements.
After completing the training, participants in all 3 exercise groups had significantly higher forced vital capacity percentage values when compared to the control group.
Additionally, the swimming group demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage peak expiratory flow following the exercise program when compared to the control group.
All children in the exercise programs reported improvements in their asthma symptoms.
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