Analysis of the motor proficiency and physical capacity of asthmatic children and adolescents: A cross-sectional study

Background

Exercise restrictions due to asthma are associated with a sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical activity. Based on the limited data available in the literature, improvements in motor proficiency among individuals with respiratory diseases may be related to increased physical activity and better performance in activities of daily living. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate motor proficiency and its association with aerobic capacity in children and adolescents with asthma.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. Motor proficiency was evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – 2nd edition (MABC-2). Aerobic capacity was assessed using the Modified Shuttle Walk Test (MSWT). Asthma control was determined using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ6).

Results

Fifty participants not engaged in regular physical activity (25 with asthma and 25 controls) were evaluated. The mean age was 7.7 ± 2.65 years in the asthma group (AG) and 10.9 ± 3.89 years in the control group (CG). Both groups performed below predicted values in the MSWT (58.7 ± 21.3 % AG and 66.8 ± 29.2 % CG). The AG performed significantly worse than the CG on the aiming and catching subscale of the MABC-2 (15.4 ± 5.23 and 20.1 ± 7.06, p = 0.01, respectively). Moreover, a moderate negative correlation was found between manual dexterity and asthma control (r = -0.51, p = 0.02). Each 9.79-point increase in the MABC-2 manual dexterity subscale was associated with a 1.72-point reduction in the ACQ6.

Conclusions

Low aerobic capacity appears to negatively impact balance, and poor asthma control appears to negatively affect manual dexterity in the AG. Moreover, the AG had worse performance in aiming and catching compared to the CG.