Eight of altogether 9 Norwegian boys with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 15-17 years, and 8 healthy boys of the same age underwent pulmonary function and bicycle exercise testing. Although the CF boys showed large individual variations, the two groups showed great differences in mean body height and weight, pulmonary function variables and maximum oxygen uptake. The maximum oxygen uptake for the CF boys ranged from 40 to 125% (mean 79%) of predicted values. Increased ventilatory equivalent for oxygen was a characteristic finding during rest and exercise for the CF boys, and their oxygen uptake was higher during rest and corresponding work loads compared with the controls. As physical training is beneficial in cystic fibrosis, such exercise tests are of value for prescribing individual training programs and in evaluating their effects.
Metabolic consequences of prolonged, severe exercise were investigated in a well trained 16-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis (CF) who completed the Oslo Marathon (42 195 m). His CF was diagnosed 6 years earlier. He had minimal radiological lung changes and a maximal oxygen uptake of 63.0 ml/kg/min. Several blood, urine and lung function parameters as well as body weight, fluid intake and rectal temperature were measured. None of the findings differed from those reported in healthy marathoners. Interestingly, no changes were found in the serum concentrations of electrolytes.
Eight of nine Norwegian 16-year-old males with cystic fibrosis, and six age-matched, physically active controls were included in an eight-year follow-up study, involving pulmonary and bicycle exercise testing. The individual's level of regular physical exercise was registered, and we investigated whether or not this could be correlated to changes in clinical status, lung function and maximal oxygen uptake. Four males with cystic fibrosis trained regularly for 4-7 h weekly, while the other four patients did no regular exercise. Three of the latter died during the study, and the fourth male in the non-training group deteriorated significantly during the study period of eight years. The four males in the training group showed improvement in lung function parameters and maximal oxygen uptake, but two of them had more marked obstructive lung disease after the age of 24 years. Even though the sample was small, and several other factors may influence the results, the study indicates that regular physical exercise has beneficial long-term effects on clinical status, lung function and physical fitness in adolescent cystic fibrosis males.
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