Effects of a long-term exercise program on motor performance in children and adolescents with CF.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine motor performance and trainability in youths with CF. METHODS 22 children and adolescents (11f/11m),age range 6-17 years (11.3±3.3 yrs.), mean FEV1 91.0±21.7% pred.finished the partially monitored 12-months exercise program. Patients performed the Deutsche Motorik Test (DMT) to assess flexibility, balance, strength, power and totalmotor performance. An incremental ergometer cycle test was used to assess maximal exercise capacity (Wpeak). All tests were performed before (T1), after 6months of monitored exercise training (T3) and another 6 months without monitoring (T4). RESULTS Motor Competence in total and test-items of the DMT (except foreward bend) improved to T3 (p 0.05). Wpeak and FEV1 were not influenced by the training program. From T3 to T4 a slight decrease was observed (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrated benefits of an individualizedmonitored long-term exercise intervention on motor performance in CF with improvements of test-tasks to predicted normal. Monitoringseems to be a facilitator in maintaining motivation towards physical activity as no further increase in motor performance was observed after stopping supervision. The results suggest that an individually tailored monitoredregular exercise program should include all aspects of physical fitness with a variety of movement experiences. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.