Physical activity and physical self‐concept: comparison between children with and without asthma

Abstract

Asthma interferes with children's ability to participate in vigorous physical activity but not in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Gender determines primary differences in physical self-concept. Appropriate exercise recommendations are necessary to encourage children with asthma to engage in vigorous physical activity for normal growth.

A nested case–control study: personal, social and environmental correlates of vigorous physical activity in adolescents with asthma

“…Objective recording may though be more adequate to capture actual PA (8). However, differences in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are not evident in either of the studies (6,7), which is confirmed in a Norwegian cohort (9), of which this study depends on. Furthermore, van Gent et al (10) did not found lower level of VPA based on both self-reports and objective recordings, and neither did Nystad (11) at any level of exercise frequency or exercise hours a week in asthma based on self-reports.…”

“…A similar distinction is reported in children with asthma overall by self-reported VPA (7). Objective recording may though be more adequate to capture actual PA (8).…”

“…Furthermore, van Gent et al (10) did not found lower level of VPA based on both self-reports and objective recordings, and neither did Nystad (11) at any level of exercise frequency or exercise hours a week in asthma based on self-reports. Even though asthma control and severity are associated with level of PA (1,6,7), and that increased intensity and exercise load is associated with bronchoconstriction (12), there is also evidence that psychosocial and socio-demographical factors and knowledge/competence are important for level of physical activity in children and adolescents with asthma (1,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Parents observing shortness of breath in their child may lead them to restrain their children from exertion (14), with subsequent increasing fear of breathlessness followed by personal or parental restrictions (15,16).…”

Asthma in adolescence affects daily life and school attendance - Two cross-sectional population-based studies 10 years apart

“…One explanation may be that asthmatic adolescents in Sweden are relatively well treated, which implies that they can participate in physical education with little or no restrictions. In line with earlier research (Chiang et al., 2006), asthmatic girls in our study participated to a lesser extent in physical education than asthmatic boys. However, the idea that asthma is the cause of the girls’ reduced participation should be interpreted cautiously.…”

“…There is an ongoing discussion on whether or not the level of physical activity differs between asthmatic children and their healthy peers. Some researchers argue that there is no difference in physical activity level (Nystad, Nafstad, & Harris, 2001) while others claim that asthma interferes with children's ability to participate in vigorous physical activities (Chiang, Huang, & Fu, 2006). However, children with asthma report that running, bicycling, playing football and physical education are activities that are restricted due to their illness (Rydström et al., 2005).…”