Abstract

Breathing and aerobic exercises improve clinical control and quality of life in patients with asthma. However, the benefits from the association of both interventions have never been tested. Aim: To evaluate the effect of association breathing to aerobic exercises on clinical and health outcomes in patients with asthma. Methods: Subjects with moderate to severe asthma were randomly assigned to either aerobic+stretching (sham)(ASG;n=22) or aerobic+breathing exercises (ABG;n=22). The aerobic (60-80% of pred) and breathing exercises (Buteyko technique) were carried out in 20 sessions. Before and after interventions, the clinical control (ACQ), health-related quality of life (AQLQ), anxiety and depression symptoms (HADS), sleep quality (Pittsburgh), hyperventilation symptoms (Nijmegen), physical capacity (ISWT), and daily physical activity levels were assessed. Results: Both groups were similar at baseline. After the intervention, no difference was observed in ACQ (-0.56±0.89 x -0.62±0.81pts; p=0.73), AQLQ (0.85±0.88 x 0.57±0.83pts; p=0.76) anxiety and depression symptoms (HADS), sleep quality, and in daily physical activity levels. However, patients from ABG improved the hyperventilation symptoms (-1.55±7.98 x -5.14±8.66pts; p=0.002) and physical capacity (58.5±88.9 x 96.7±121.8m; p=0.01) compared to ASG. Conclusions: The association of both exercises does not potentiate improvements in asthma control, psychosocial symptoms, sleep quality, and daily physical activity levels compared to one exercise. However, it improves hyperventilation symptoms and physical capacity in patients with moderate to severe asthma.