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Exercise No Longer a Risk,But a Remedy for Children with Asthma,New Guidelines Reveal
A groundbreaking set of recommendations,published in october 2025,challenges decades of conventional wisdom and positions exercise as a vital therapeutic tool for children living with asthma.
Nearly 475 million children worldwide are affected by this chronic respiratory disease. For years, physical activity was frequently enough discouraged due to concerns about triggering exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) – the narrowing of airways leading to wheezing and shortness of breath. This caution, though, inadvertently contributed to lower fitness levels, increased rates of obesity, and poorer mental health among young asthma sufferers.
But a paradigm shift is underway. New research demonstrates that structured exercise, when asthma is well-controlled, can significantly improve pulmonary capacity, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall quality of life. Despite these promising findings, a reluctance to embrace exercise recommendations persisted among both parents and healthcare professionals – until now.
Developed by a multidisciplinary panel of 17 experts led by the National Clinical Research Center for Child health and the ChildrenS Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the extensive guidelines were published in the World Journal of Pediatrics.The recommendations provide detailed guidance on exercise safety, appropriate types of activity, intensity levels, and crucial monitoring techniques.
the team’s work involved an extensive review of 64 studies identified across eight major databases. Utilizing the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) framework and a Delphi expert voting process, recommendations were formulated across nine key areas. Key findings suggest that moderate aerobic exercise – such as walking, cycling, or swimming – performed three to five times weekly can safely improve cardiopulmonary function and alleviate asthma symptoms.Furthermore, resistance training twice a week can help mitigate muscle loss often associated with corticosteroid use, while flexibility training enhances respiratory muscle compliance.
individualized plans are paramount, the guidelines emphasize, taking into account a child’s asthma control level, current fitness status, and environmental factors. Optimal conditions include a temperature range of 20-24 °C and humidity levels above 40%. The study also champions the use of wearable devices and home spirometry for real-time monitoring of lung function and exercise intensity.
“Exercise should be viewed not as a risk but as a therapeutic tool for children with asthma,” stated a senior author of the study,Prof. zhi-Min Chen. “with proper control and individualized plans, moast children can safely engage in physical activity that strengthens their bodies and minds.”
These recommendations represent a essential shift in pediatric asthma care, moving away from restriction and toward empowerment. Integrating exercise into routine management has the potential to reduce reliance on medication, prevent obesity, and improve long-term physical and mental health outcomes. The study also highlights the potential of smart health devices and digital monitoring tools to facilitate “precision exercise prescriptions” in everyday life.
Future research will focus on refining exercise intensity parameters and investigating the long-term benefits of combining aerobic and resistance training, paving the way for a more holistic approach to asthma management centered on movement and well-being.
Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Journal reference: Xu, H.-Z., et al. (2025). Comprehensive exercise recommendations for pediatric asthma: an evidence synthesis. World Journal of Pediatrics. doi: 10.1007/s12519-025-00976-6.
