Measurement of the metabolic response to physical exercise in children. Influence of training and bronchospasm
Tancredi, G.; Cerimoniale, G.; Lo Tesoriere, A.; Aragona, P.; Cutrera, R.; Ronchetti, R.
La Pediatria Medica e Chirurgica Medical and Surgical Pediatrics 7(3): 351-355
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-5387 PMID: 3939257 Document Number: 253347
A treadmill incremental exercise test was performed on 30 children. They were 18 healthy subjects (17 males, 1 female, age 7-16 years) and 12 asthmatic subjects (10 males, 2 females, age 9-19 years). The latter were characterized by exercise induced asthma (E.I.B.) and underwent a second test after the administration of Beta 2-adrenergic drug. During the test, while increasing the work-load, measurements were made of ventilation, O2 uptake CO2 production and heart-rate. No significant difference was found comparing the performances of the healthy subjects with those of the asthmatic patients. On the contrary trained subjects (both healthy and asthmatic) showed a better performance when compared to untrained subjects. In the presence of E.I.B. only untrained asthmatic children had their performances diminished. It is concluded that adequate information is required in order to avoid the negative consequences of exercising in the asthmatic subjects: physical exercise can be freely practised by children with asthma but they should be educated to recognize the limitations the bronchospasm can possibly represent for them.