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Review
. 2022 Nov 3;10(11):2205.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare10112205.

Effectiveness of Physical Exercise Interventions on Pulmonary Function and Physical Fitness in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla  1 , Thomas Yvert  2 , Ángela Blanco  2 , Alicia Irene Sosa Pedreschi  3 , Israel J Thuissard  4 , Margarita Pérez-Ruiz  2
Affiliations
Review

Effectiveness of Physical Exercise Interventions on Pulmonary Function and Physical Fitness in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Objective: Physical exercise is associated with several benefits in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), associated with a reduction in patient mortality. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of exercise interventions on physical condition and lung function in children and adults with CF to establish the most appropriate type and dose of physical exercise used so far. Methods: The studies included were randomized controlled trials with physical exercise interventions performed with children or adults with CF, analyzing the effects on pulmonary function, cardiorespiratory capacity, and muscle strength. The variables analyzed in at least four studies in the same population (children or adults) with the same measuring test were included in the meta-analysis. Results:Pulmonary function: There were no changes in the forced expiratory volume 1 s, but mouth expiratory/inspiratory pressures were improved in some studies. Physical fitness: In children, the interventions did not manage to improve the VO2peak (SMD = 0.22; 95%CI: -0.25 to 0.68; p = 0.73) but improved muscle strength. In adults, physical exercise interventions based on high-intensity aerobic training showed positive results in the VO2peak, and in some muscle strength outcomes. Conclusions: Exercise interventions in children and adults with CF are effective in improving muscle strength, cardiovascular capacity, and respiratory muscle function. However, they do not achieve improvements in lung function. The most effective programs are those using strength training or cardiovascular high-intensity interval training, although to date there have been few such interventions.

Keywords: cardiorespiratory function; cystic fibrosis; exercise; muscle strength; physical fitness; pulmonary function.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the studies included.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias assessment of the included studies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Risk of bias summary.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Meta-analysis and forest plot of VO2peak in children with cystic fibrosis [26,27,30].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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