Effect of water- and land-based exercise on lung function in children
with post COVID-19 condition: secondary results from a randomized
controlled trial
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of water- and
land-based exercise on lung function in children with post COVID-19
condition. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. Children
with post COVID-19 condition aged 10-12 years were randomly assigned to
water-based exercise (AQUA), land-based exercise (LAND), or control
group with no exercise (CONTROL). The outcomes were the changes in lung
function (Lungtest Handy) from baseline to immediately after the 8-week
intervention. Parameters measured included forced expiratory volume in 1
s (FEV 1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and vital
capacity (VC). Results: After the intervention, there was a significant
difference (p<0.01) between the AQUA and LAND groups compared to
the CONTROL group for FEV 1 values (F (2,64) = 6.80; P =
0.91; p<0.01, η2 = 0.18), and significant differences between
CONTROL and AQUA groups (p<0.01) and CONTROL and LAND groups
(p<0.05) for FEV 1 (F(2,64) = 6.96; P = 0.91;
p<0.01, η2 = 0.18). Repetitions-Groups interactions for FEV
1/%FVC (F(2,64) = 0.71, P = 0.162, p>0.05,η2
= 0.030) showed that the changes that occurred varied from group to
group and the reason for this was an upward trend in LAND and AQUA and a
downward trend in CONTROL. Conclusion: The study found that a supervised
twice weekly 8-week exercise training program in water and on land
improved lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition.