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Aerobic exercise is associated with improved clinical outcomes in asthma
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
A study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: in Practice found that moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise was associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with asthma.
Sarah R. Valkenborghs, PhD, of the University of Newcastle in Calaghan, Australia, and colleagues compared the effects of moderate and intense aerobic exercise on asthma markers and inflammation in 41 adults who were randomly assigned to three groups: 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise three times a week, 30 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise three times a week, or a control group.
The researchers found that compared with the control group, the moderate-intensity group showed statistically significant and clinically significant improvements in asthma-related quality of life (AQLQ) and asthma control. The high-intensity group showed statistically significant but not clinically significant improvements in AQLQ and asthma control compared with the control group.
A decrease in sputum macrophage and lymphocyte counts was also noted after moderate-intensity exercise compared to the control group. The decrease in android fat mass was associated with improved AQLQ and decreased sputum interleukin-6 levels, but no association was found with changes in fitness level.
"Because both moderate and vigorous exercise provide benefits to adults with asthma, both types of exercise can be recommended, giving people the opportunity to choose their preferred exercise intensity," the study authors write.