Physical Rehabilitation in Asthma Management

Background: 50% of asthma patients experiences limitations in physical activity and usual lifestyle. Gymnastics can provide significant health benefits and improve quality of life. Objective: To investigate effects of gymnastics on asthma patients, specifically leading to ameliorated lung function. Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was performed to evaluate the effect of respiratory gymnastics (RG). 85 patients with moderate/severe asthma were randomly assigned to control (CG - 16 persons, standard therapy) or RG (RGTG - 69 persons, standard therapy & RG) group; with no significant difference in demographics. Patients were instructed how to practice exercises and examined in 3-6-9-12 months for pulmonary function, cardiopulmonary exercise and control of asthma. Results: 12 month physical rehabilitation (with pharmacotherapy) reduced: the frequency of complaints; clinical manifestations of asthma; symptoms: daytime (from 94.0% to 28.0%; p = 0.0001) and night (from 54,7% to 7,1%; p = 0,0001); the consumption of β2-agonists (from 3,2 to 2,1 puffs/week). RGTG group increased: FEV1 (from 1,3 to 1,7 L); PEF (from 338,6±19,5 to 403,5±15,8); exercise capacity (W/kg) from 0.85±0.1 to 1.4±0.1. The number of patients with limited physical activity decreased from 86.0±5.0 to 22.0±5.9%; p = 0,001. Heart rate and blood pressure recovery time after exercise decreased from 10,4±0,7 to 9,1±0,6 min (p Conclusions: Individual programs of RG reduced asthma symptoms and the use of bronchodilator medication in patients with asthma, and can be effective as an adjuvant therapy and optimize asthma patients medical treatment.