Impact of aerobic exercise and detraining on pulmonary function indexes in obese middle-aged patients with chronic asthma

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown the relationship between incidence of asthma symptoms and environmental factors, such as sedentary lifestyle and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of exercise rehabilitation protocols on lung function in obese adult patients with chronic asthma is a controversial issue. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of aerobic exercise on lung function in obese middle-aged men with chronic asthma. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 39 obese middleaged males with mild and moderate asthma. The experimental group (n=19) with regard to the safe range 15≥ RPE>9 followed the sub-maximal rehabilitation exercise program (50 to 80% HRmax intensity) for 3 months. Then, they underwent one month of detraining. The control group (n=20) did not have any form of aerobic exercise. Spirometric parameters in base, three months of training, and one month of detraining were measured by standard methods. Results: Indicators of lung function, including FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF%75 and MVV significantly decreased. The pattern of changes in FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and MVV remained stable even after a month of detraining (p 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that the incidence of physiological adaptations of aerobic exercise, as a non-pharmacologic clinical factor, after the one-month detraining period affected the spirometric parameters in obese asthmatic patients.