Effects of exercise on clinical asthma control

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease whose diagnosis is clinical and treatment is aimed mainly control the symptoms and reduce the risk of exacerbation. Even under appropriate clinical and drug treatment, patients do not always reach the appropriate clinical management. Therefore, it is recommended to use of non-pharmacological therapies, highlighting the physical exercise (PE), which is currently recognized as a fundamental part of the rehabilitation program for asthmatics. The following review aimed to explore aspects related to improved clinical management of the disease induced by PE in patients with asthma. To this end, we reviewed articles published in the database Pubmed and SciELO (from 1970 to 2015). It was found that early studies suggest that PE, predominately aerobic, improves physical and perception of breathlessness (dyspnea). This trend was maintained until the 90s and thereafter emerged studies with greater methodological rigor showing that PE can reduce exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), bronchial responsiveness and the aerobic capacity. Evidence showing that the PE improves health factors related to quality of life, clinical control of asthma and lung inflammation have become better investigated only in the last 5 years. Currently, it is considered the PE practice as a fundamental component in the treatment program for patients with moderate and severe asthma when performed predominantly aerobic, in low to moderate intensity and produced at least twice a week individually. Therefore, the physical exercise appears to enhance the clinical control of asthma by improving fitness, it is important indications in clinical practice for patients who are on optimal medical-drug treatment.