Intrahospital Weight and Aerobic Training in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of an 8-wk intrahospital combined circuit weight and aerobic training program performed by children with cystic fibrosis (of low–moderate severity and stable clinical condition) on the following outcomes: cardiorespiratory fitness (V˙O_2peak) and muscle strength (five-repetition maximum (5RM) bench press, 5RM leg press, and 5RM seated row) (primary outcomes) and pulmonary function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s), weight, body composition, functional mobility (Timed Up and Down Stairs and 3-m Timed Up and Go tests), and quality of life (secondary outcomes). We also determined the effects of a detraining period (4 wk) on the aforementioned outcomes.

Methods: We performed a randomized controlled trial design. Eleven participants in each group (controls: 7 boys, age = 11 ± 3 yr, body mass index = 17.2 ± 0.8 kgöm⁻² (mean ± SEM); intervention: 6 boys, age = 10 ± 2 yr, body mass index = 18.4 ± 1.0 kgöm⁻²) started the study.

Results: Adherence to training averaged 95.1% ± 7.4%. We observed a significant group × time interaction effect (P = 0.036) for V˙O_2peak. In the intervention group, V˙O_2peak significantly increased with training by 3.9 mLökg⁻¹Imin⁻¹ (95% confidence interval = 1.8–6.1 mLökg⁻¹Imin⁻¹, P = 0.002), whereas it decreased during the detraining period (−3.4 mLökg⁻¹Imin⁻¹, 95% confidence interval = −5.7 to −1.7 mLökg⁻¹Imin⁻¹, P = 0.001). In contrast, no significant changes were observed during the study period within the control group. Although significant improvements were also observed after training for all 5RM strength tests (P < 0.001 for the interaction effect), the training improvements were not significantly decreased after the detraining period in the intervention group (all P > 0.1 for after training vs detraining). We found no significant training benefits in any of the secondary outcomes.

Conclusions: A short-term combined circuit weight and aerobic training program performed in a hospital setting induces significant benefits in the cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength of children with cystic fibrosis.

Full article can be found at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/756304?src=nl_topic