Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Oct;12(10):2744-2753.e8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.06.015. Epub 2024 Jun 18.

Effects of Moderate- Versus Vigorous-Intensity Exercise Training on Asthma Outcomes in Adults

Sarah R Valkenborghs  1 , Lisa G Wood  2 , Robin Callister  1 , John W Upham  3 , Christopher L Grainge  4 , Sophie Anderson  5 , Lily M Williams  2 , Rebecca F McLoughlin  6 , Evan J Williams  2 , Hayley A Scott  7
Affiliations
Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of Moderate- Versus Vigorous-Intensity Exercise Training on Asthma Outcomes in Adults

Sarah R Valkenborghs et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Background: The therapeutic effects of exercise have prompted calls for it to be embedded into standard asthma care, but evidence informing the optimal exercise intensity is lacking.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise training on asthma outcomes and inflammation.

Methods: This was a 12-week randomized controlled trial in 46 adults with asthma randomized to either (1) 45-minute moderate-intensity exercise training 3 times/wk, (2) 30-minute vigorous-intensity exercise training 3 times/wk, or (3) the control group. Asthma-related quality of life (AQLQ), asthma control (ACQ), cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and airway and systemic inflammation were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results: Forty-one participants completed the study (89% retention). The moderate-intensity group had a statistically and clinically significant improvement in AQLQ (0.63 [0.33-0.93], P < .001) and ACQ (-0.51 [-0.83 to -0.19], P = .003) relative to control. The vigorous-intensity group had a statistically, but not clinically, significant improvement in AQLQ (0.46 [0.14-0.80], P = .007) and ACQ (-0.36 [-0.69 to -0.02], P = .040) relative to control. After moderate-intensity training, there was a reduction in sputum macrophage (-1341 [-2491 to -191] × 104/mL, P = .024) and lymphocyte (-114 [-220 to -8] × 104/mL, P = .036) counts relative to control. A reduction in android fat mass, but not a change in fitness, was associated with improved AQLQ (rs = -0.341, P = .030) and reduced sputum IL-6 (rs = 0.422, P = .013).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise training are associated with improvements in clinical asthma outcomes and, therefore, both intensities could be recommended as an adjuvant asthma therapy.

Keywords: Asthma; Exercise; Inflammation; Moderate-intensity exercise; Vigorous-intensity exercise.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types