Intrahospital Weight and Aerobic Training in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

SOSA, E. S., I. F. GROENEVELD, L. GONZALEZ-SAIZ, L. M. LOPEZ-MOJARES, J. R. VILLA-ASENSI, M. I. BARRIO GONZALEZ, S. J. FLECK, M. PEREZ, and A. LUCIA. Intrahospital Weight and Aerobic Training in Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 2-11, 2012. Purpose: The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of an 8-wk intrahospital combined circuit weight and aerobic training program performed by children with cystic fibrosis (of low-moderate severity and stable clinical condition) on the following outcomes: cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak )a nd muscle strength (five-repetition maximum (5RM) bench press, 5RM leg press, and 5RM seated row) (primary outcomes) and pul- monary function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s), weight, body composition, functional mobility (Timed Up and Down Stairs and 3-m Timed Up and Go tests), and quality of life (secondary outcomes). We also determined the effects of a detraining period (4 wk) on the aforementioned outcomes. Methods: We performed a randomized controlled trial design. Eleven participants in each group (controls: 7 boys, age = 11 T 3 yr, body mass index = 17.2 T 0.8 kgIm j2 (mean T SEM); intervention: 6 boys, age = 10 T 2 yr, body mass index = 18.4 T 1.0 kgIm j2 ) started the study. Results: Adherence to training averaged 95.1% T 7.4%. We observed a significant group time interaction effect (P = 0.036) for VO2peak. In the intervention group, VO2peak significantly increased with training by 3.9 mLIkg j1 Imin j1 (95% confidence interval = 1.8-6.1 mLIkg j1 Imin j1 , P = 0.002), whereas it decreased during the detraining period (j3.4 mLIkg j1 Imin j1 , 95% confidence interval = j5.7 to j1.7 mLIkg j1 Imin j1 , P = 0.001). In contrast, no significant changes were observed during the study period within the control group. Although significant improvements were also observed after training for all 5RM strength tests (P G 0.001 for the interaction effect), the training improvements were not significantly decreased after the detraining period in the intervention group (all P 9 0.1 for after training vs detraining). We found no significant training benefits in any of the secondary outcomes. Conclusions: A short-term combined circuit weight and aerobic training program performed in a hospital setting induces significant benefits in the cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength of children with cystic fibrosis. Key Words: PEDIATRIC PATIENTS, EXERCISE, VO2PEAK, MUSCLE STRENGTH