The Effect of swimming training on the severity of exercise-induced bronchospam

The aim of the present study was to verify the effect of swimming training on the severity of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). Thirty two asthmatic adolescents took part in this study. Sixteen individuals from the experimental group (EG) were subjected to a 10 week swimming training programme of 5/9/03three 45-minute weekly sessions. Other 16 asthmatic individuals served as control group (CG). Pulmonary functions were measured by expirometry performed five minutes before and after a 7-8 minute treadmill running, slopped at 10% and at intensity of 85-90% of the maximum heart rate, before and after the training programme. The forced expiratory flow from 25 to 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25.75) values, comparing before versus after training values, were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), both at rest and postexercise conditions. However, there was significant difference (p < 0.05) between maximal expiratory flow (MEF) values at rest (4.82 l.s'1 versus 5.61 l.s'1 before versus after training, respectively) and post-exercise (3.13 l.s'1 versus 4.01 l.s'1 before versus after training, respectively) and also between forced vital capacity (FVC) values both at rest (3.21 1 versus 3.42 1, before versus after training, respectively) and post-exercise (2.43 1 versus 2.91 1, before versus after training, respectively). These results suggest that, although these individuals are still asthmatics with EIB, the applied swimming training reduced their EIB severity. This may have important clinical implications for the every day activities of these individuals, especially physical activities. Further investigations should be carried out to look for the mechanisms underlying the observed effects