Aim: To evaluate the effect of a three- month exercise training program on the physical performance and lung function among CF youths.
Subjects-Methods: Ten youths with CF (5 males) mean age 17.1 years volunteered to participate in a 3month exercise training program, which was supervised via accelerometers and individualized according to every patient’s physical functioning profile. At the beginning and the end of the study all patients were evaluated with spirometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), 6 minute Walking (6MWT) Test and functional ability, using the Sit to Stand (STS) and Sit to Reach (STR). STS performance was used as an indicator of lower limb muscle strength, while 6MWT of endurance and STR of flexibility. An individually exercise program was prescribed to each patient. Patient enrollment is still open and the intervention will stop after 12 months of first visit.
Results: Ten CF patients (mean FEV1: 81.8%, mean VO2peak: 87.6%, mean 6MWT 387.5m) were evaluated in 0, 1 and 3 months. After 3 months of exercise intervention, statistically significant differences were observed in the following parameters: peak oxygen uptake % predicted (VO2peak%) (p<0.001) , 6MWT (p=0.000), STS (p<0.001), STR (p<0.05) test.
Conclusion: A three- month individualized fully supervised exercise intervention program can help in the improvement of patients’ physical conditioning as well as their exercise capacity.