Results Overall , exercise intolerance is prevalent in pediatric chronic disease .
Background Physical activity ( PA ) is associated with a diverse range of health benefits .
International guidelines suggest that children should be participating in a minimum of 60 min of moderate to vigorous intensity PA per day to achieve these benefits .
However , current guidelines are intended for healthy children , and thus may not be applicable to children with a chronic disease .
Specifically , the dose of PA and disease specific exercise considerations are not included in these guidelines , leaving such children with few , if any , evidence -based informed suggestions pertaining to PA .
Thus , the purpose of this narrative review was to consider current literature in the area of exercise as medicine and provide practical applications for exercise in five prevalent pediatric chronic diseases : respiratory , congenital heart , metabolic , systemic inflammatory/autoimmune , and cancer .
Outpatient exercise training in children with cystic fibrosis: physiological effects, perceived competence, and acceptability.
Exercise training is currently advocated as part of the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF ) . However , data are few that document physiologic benefits or changes in patients ' perceptions of long-term training programs in children with CF . The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and acceptability of a home cycling program in children with CF . Fourteen patients ( 9 boys , 5 girls ) with CF , mean ( SD ) age 14.1 ( 2.0 ) years , with mild to moderate impairment of lung function ( forced expiratory volume in 1 s , mean ( SD ) 58.3 (16.3)% of predicted ) were studied for 1 year . The first half of the study year was used to obtain baseline values at 0 and 6 months . During the second half of the year , a cycle program was carried out 5 times a week , for 20 min each day at a level of work that result ed in a heart rate of 140 - 160 beats/min . Once a week the cycle program was supervised by a physiotherapist . Measurements were repeated at 12 months . Effects of the exercise program were measured in terms of lung function , nutritional status , growth , muscle strength , exercise performance , perceived competence , and attitude towards the training program . Differences between the changes during the 6-month training period as compared to the 6-month control period were analyzed by multivariate statistics and nonparametric tests . Statistically significant differences ( P < 0.05 ) between the two periods were found with respect to muscle strength of knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors , and with respect to maximal oxygen consumption per kg body weight as well as per kg fat free mass . All changes were positive . No adverse effects were found . Perceived competence showed significant positive changes in feelings about physical appearance , general self-worth , and Total Perceived Competence Score . Scores concerning perceived acceptability of the program were significantly lower at the end of the training period ; however , patients reported that they did want to continue with other sorts of training . We conclude that an exercise training program in the home can produce beneficial effects on oxygen consumption , muscle force , and perceived competence in children with CF . However , acceptability of the program was low , suggesting that long-term adherence would be poor , and hence , other sorts of training need to be identified
Results Overall , exercise intolerance is prevalent in pediatric chronic disease .
Background Physical activity ( PA ) is associated with a diverse range of health benefits .
International guidelines suggest that children should be participating in a minimum of 60 min of moderate to vigorous intensity PA per day to achieve these benefits .
However , current guidelines are intended for healthy children , and thus may not be applicable to children with a chronic disease .
Specifically , the dose of PA and disease specific exercise considerations are not included in these guidelines , leaving such children with few , if any , evidence -based informed suggestions pertaining to PA .
Thus , the purpose of this narrative review was to consider current literature in the area of exercise as medicine and provide practical applications for exercise in five prevalent pediatric chronic diseases : respiratory , congenital heart , metabolic , systemic inflammatory/autoimmune , and cancer .