Asthma
Conditions
Keywords
Asthma, Exercise, Asthma control, Physical fitness, Quality of life
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of regular exercise on physical fitness, asthma control, and quality of life among adult asthmatics.
Interventions
OTHERExercise
The exercise group is given a 24-week individualized training program, including aerobic exercise, muscular training, relaxation exercises and stretching. Patients are asked to observe their asthma control daily and to mark in their diary asthma symptoms and activity limitations as well as duration, intensity and form of exercising on daily basis. They are also asked to perform PEF-measurements twice a day for one-week period every 4 weeks. The control group receives ordinary instructions.
Sponsors
GlaxoSmithKline
Foundation of the Finnish Anti-Tuberculosis Association
Research Foundation of the Pulmonary Diseases
Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation
Vaino and Laina Kivi Foundation
Ida Montini Foundation
Oulu University Hospital
University of Oulu
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* diagnosis of asthma made by physician, or reimbursement for asthma medication from the National Social Insurance Institution of Finland (code 203), or patient fulfills the diagnostic criteria for asthma as outlined in the Finnish Guidelines for Asthma Management (Käypä hoito -suositus 2006 and 2012)
Exclusion criteria
* FEV1 \< 60 % of predicted in spirometry * PEF variability \> 30 % at least 2 times during a 1-week monitoring period * use of bronchodilating medication at least 4 times daily * permanent, daily steroid tablet treatment * patients who exercise regularly already at baseline at least 3 times a week at least 30 min at a time * serious coronary heart disease * severe hypotension * severe heart failure * severe musculoskeletal disorder * dementia * physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive lung disease
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma control | 6-month period | Asthma control based on symptom score and PEF-values |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Physical fitness | Baseline and 6 months | Physical fitness measured with spiroergometry |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lung function | Baseline and 6 months | Lung function measured with spirometry |
| Quality of Life | Baseline and 6 months | Quality of life assessed using St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire |
| Step test | Baseline and 6 months | Indirect maximal oxygen consumption test using with 6 min step-walk-test |
| Muscle strength and flexibility | Baseline and 6 months | Muscle strength and flexibility tests |
Countries
Finland
Outcome results
None listed