Physical activity – What if my child has asthma? - BHF National ...

Are some types ofphysical activity betterthan others for peoplewith asthma?You may need to think about the type of physical activitythat your child can do, especially if your child is very limitedby their asthma symptoms. Certain types of physical activitymay be better suited to your child than others. But as long asyour child’s asthma is under control, they can take part in anyphysical activity they enjoy.Dynamic aerobic activities – such as walking, cycling,swimming, dancing, fitness classes and adapted team games– are generally better for children and young people withasthma, as these can be done at low intensity and intermittently.Also, children and young people with asthma tend to cope betterwith ‘interval-type activities’. That means activities that requirebursts of activity interspersed with spells of activity at a slowerpace – for example, relay races, tag or chasing or jumping games.With this type of activity, the child or young person can rest inbetween bursts of activity. Interval-type activities can be usedto slowly improve your child’s stamina, without causing themdiscomfort. At first your child may need longer rest periods,but these can be made shorter as their stamina improves.Activities with rest periods should still involve somemovement, but at a slower pace. This is known as ‘activerest’. Complete rest in between bursts of activity is notrecommended.Indoor swimmingRecreational indoor swimming is an excellent activity forchildren and young people with asthma, as they can doit at their own pace. Also, the warm, humid air in theswimming pool is less likely to trigger your child’s asthmasymptoms. However, your child should take care in heavilychlorinated or very cold pools, as these can be a triggerto asthma symptoms for some children and young people.Team gamesTeam games such as football, hockey, netball or volleyballare good activities for children and young people withasthma because they tend to involve brief bursts of playingat a higher intensity followed by active rest periods, so theyare less likely to cause asthma symptoms. Some childrenand young people with asthma may struggle to completea full game, but may be able to cope with an adapted game– for example, having more players on each team, or usinga smaller play area.20 21