Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41245915›Full record

ReviewCureus2025

Aerobic Exercise-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Bronchial Asthma in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review.

Salma Eltohami Ballal Tahaelbashir, Wiaam Noureldin Birima Noureldin, Islam Kanada Toto Korea, Rayan Elnoor Saad Mohamed, Asma Abualgasim Alameen Ahmed, Mohamed Alshaab M Alshibane

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Salma Eltohami Ballal TahaelbashirPaediatrics, Armed Forces Hospitals, Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, SAU.
Wiaam Noureldin Birima NoureldinPediatric Emergency, Bristol Children Hospital NHS, Bristol, GBR.
Islam Kanada Toto KoreaGeneral Practice, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, SDN.
Rayan Elnoor Saad MohamedPediatrics, Sudan Medical Specialization Board, Khartoum, SDN.
Asma Abualgasim Alameen AhmedPediatrics, Ministry of Health, Almadinah Almonwarra, SAU.
Mohamed Alshaab M AlshibaneBiomedical Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, GBR.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a prevalent chronic condition in children, often leading to exercise intolerance and diminished quality of life despite pharmacological management. Aerobic exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has emerged as a promising adjunct therapy. This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise-based PR on pulmonary function, asthma control, exercise capacity, and quality of life in children with bronchial asthma. A systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2015 to 2025. Studies involving children (≤18 years) with asthma that compared aerobic exercise-based interventions against a control were included. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (ROB 2) tool. A narrative synthesis was undertaken due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes. Eight RCTs with a total of 435 participants were included. The findings revealed inconsistent effects on spirometric parameters [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC)], with three studies showing significant improvements and others reporting no significant change. In contrast, interventions consistently demonstrated significant benefits in asthma control/symptoms, quality of life, and cardiorespiratory fitness (e.g., VO₂max, 6-minute walk test). Various modalities, including yoga, conventional aerobic exercise, and inspiratory muscle training, were effective. The overall risk of bias was low for seven of the eight included studies. Aerobic exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation is a safe and effective adjunct to standard care in pediatric asthma, conferring significant and consistent improvements in asthma control, quality of life, and physical fitness, even in the absence of uniform changes in lung function. These findings support the integration of structured exercise programs into comprehensive asthma management plans for children. However, the heterogeneity in exercise interventions and outcome measurements across the included studies should be considered when interpreting these findings.

Indexed as

adolescentaerobic exerciseasthmachildpediatricsphysical activitypulmonary rehabilitationquality of lifesystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41245915
PMCPMC12619135

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.