A randomized clinical trial found that both structured aerobic exercise and behavioral coaching programs significantly improve asthma control in adults with moderate-to-severe asthma, with patients able to choose the approach that best fits their lifestyle and preferences.
- Both aerobic exercise and behavioral coaching (goal-setting, motivational interviewing) produced meaningful improvements in asthma control after eight and 16 weeks.
- Benefits included improved asthma-related quality of life, increased physical activity levels, and reduced anxiety and depression symptoms.
- Improvements exceeded the minimum clinically important difference and were maintained for at least four months after interventions ended.
A randomized clinical trial has found that both structured aerobic exercise and behavioral coaching programs designed to increase daily physical activity can significantly improve asthma control in adults with moderate-to-severe asthma. As a bonus, the study’s investigators said patients can choose the approach that best fits their lifestyle. The results offer patients and healthcare providers greater flexibility in treatment options.
Researchers who authored the paper, “Aerobic Training Versus Behavioral Intervention to Increase Physical Activity on Clinical Control of People With Moderate-to-Severe Asthma: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” compared two nonpharmacological approaches for physically inactive adults whose asthma remained poorly controlled despite medical treatment. Their results were published in Pulmonology.
The trial analyzed 52 adults between the ages of 18 and 65 with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma. Participants were randomly assigned to either an aerobic training program involving supervised treadmill exercise twice weekly or a behavioral intervention program that used coaching, goal setting, motivational interviewing and wearable activity trackers to encourage greater daily movement.
According to the results, both groups showed meaningful improvements in asthma control after eight and 16 weeks, as measured by the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). Researchers reported that the improvements exceeded the minimum clinically important difference and were maintained for at least four months after the interventions ended.
The study’s authors noted that the benefits extended well beyond symptom control. Participants in both groups experienced significant improvements in asthma-related quality of life, increased levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression. Researchers found no statistically significant differences between the two treatment approaches across most outcomes and said the choice of intervention should be based on the patient’s preferences and the intervention center’s capacity to provide care.
Previous studies had demonstrated benefits from both exercise training and behavioral programs independently, investigators noted, but this is believed to be the first trial directly comparing the two approaches.
The aerobic training program consisted of 45-minute treadmill sessions twice weekly, with intensity tailored to each participant’s fitness level using cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The behavioral intervention focused on helping participants incorporate more movement into everyday life.
The study’s authors said the results support a more personalized approach to asthma management. Rather than prescribing a single strategy, they said, physicians should be encouraged to work with patients to select either a formal exercise program or a structured behavioral coaching approach based on individual preferences, available resources and access to care.
