EFFECTS OF A PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM UPON ASTHMATIC BOYS
Authors: Petersen Kay H. , McElhenney Thomas R. 
Published: December 2021

As indicated by the tests administered and the subjective evaluations received, the results of this eight-month study justified the conclusion that asthmatic children benefit physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally from participation in a specially designed physical fitness program. One of the obvious limitations of this study is the lack of control groups of asthmatic boys all completely evaluated by physical fitness tests, allergic, and psychological tests, with one-half receiving hyposensitization and not the physical rehabilitation program and the other half receiving the physical rehabilitation program and not the hyposensitization program. We hope this paper will stimulate others to undertake such a study and if possible to enlarge the scope to include several hundred asthmatic children, for only then can the true value of such a program as this he completely ascertained. Despite these limitations, our primary objective was to see to what extent each individual boy could be helped. It is the opinion of the allergist that the improvement seen in this group of boys was significantly better than was observed in other asthmatic boys not in the program. It is the opinion of the authors that the personal attention given to these boys in helping them develop improved physical capabilities and therefore a higher regard for themselves was to a large extent one of the telling factors in their improvement.

This type of program perhaps offers, often for the first time, an opportunity for the asthmatic child to help himself. As he increases his proficiency in doing breathing exercises, he learns how to diminish the dyspnea associated with his asthma and in this way fear and panic are lessened and his dependence on medication, his parents, and the physician is greatly reduced. This, plus his increased competence in other physical activities, leads to more self-confidence, an increase in peer acceptance and a decrease in his psychological dependence which tends to further the development of asthma.

As previously stated, this rehabilitation program is in no way designed to replace good medical management and hyposensitization when indicated. It does, however, provide a means of helping those children whom the physician and parents cannot help and whom at present the schools have not attempted to help. If we are to treat the "whole" child, then a rehabilitation program of this type, combined with the best medical care available, is a must.

The resultant marked decrease of school days missed because of asthma by participants in the program had implications for all concerned with asthmatic children's physical well-being, academic progress, and social adjustment, namely, their physicians, parents, school administrators, and classroom teachers. These persons must realize that this is indeed an inexpensive program with great dividends not only measureable in dollars and cents but also in its contribution to the welfare and happiness of deserving children. The feasibility of remedial physical education programs with their carry-over to other areas of adjustment in "sub-par" school chidren's lives should be seriously considered by school boards with encouragement and advice from physicians and qualified physical education teachers.

In the school year, 1963-64, with the approval of the Austin Public Schools, some asthmatic boys, having been transferred from other districts, attended Casis Elementary School regularly and were scheduled into the same type of rehabilitation program daily.