ASTHMA

BY FRANK MULTARI
 PAR-Q SCREENING QESTIONAIRRE
- Name – Address - D.O.B - Contact Number -

YES OR NO?
Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activity
recommended by a doctor?

Do you feel pain in your chest when you do physical activity?

In the past month, have you had chest pain when you were not doing physical activity?

Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness?

Do you have a bone or joint problem that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity?

Is your doctor currently prescribing drugs/medication for your blood pressure or heart condition?

Are there any other reasons that you know of as to why you should not participate in physical activity?

Any other previous or present medical history?

Depending on my client I would get them to run a for 6 minutes at a low-moderate intensity and
monitoring how they cope.
 RESEARCH OF THE SPECIAL
POPULATION
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the
bronchial tubes that causes swelling and
constriction of the airways. The result is
difficulty breathing.

How does an individual get this medical

condition?
The exact cause of asthma is not known;
through research many different factors
can be acknowledged to be part of the
cause. Researchers think a combination
of factors predominately family genes
and certain environmental exposures
interact to cause asthma to develop,
most often early in life.
 RESEARCH OF THE
SPECIAL POPULATION
The condition and impacts on exercise? The effects asthma has during exercise

For a person who has asthma, • Wheezing

the airways are tubes that carry air into • Coughing
and out of your lungs are inflamed. This • A feeling of tightness in the chest
makes the airways swollen and very • Breathlessness.
sensitive.
When the airways react, the muscles
around them tighten. This causes the
airways to narrow, and less air flows to
your lungs. The swelling also can worsen,
making the airways even narrower.
RESEARCH OF THE SPECIAL
POPULATION
Major risks involved.
Controllable and Uncontrollable

There are some major risks involved for

the population, some controllable
whilst others cannot be avoided thus
being uncontrollable.

Some of the controllable factors which an

individual and control or monitor are
smoking, weight gain/loss and
personal hygiene.

The factors which are uncontrollable are

gender, family history, and breathing
polluted air from your surroundings
and/or environment.
 RESEARCH OF THE SPECIAL
POPULATION
Underlying causes of the condition
• Bronchospasm: Sudden spasm of the bronchi
• Cardiac arrest: stoppage of the heart
• Poor chest expansion or chest hyperinflation, (rapid inflation of the chest)
• Pectus carinatum: bone abnormalities in the chest region
• Genetic history: Asthma is known to be related with 25 gene dysfunctions.
• Respiratory failure

Prevalence of asthma
Inhaler medication can reduce swelling of the lungs and thus allowing more oxygen to
be accessed by the body and in turn flow throughout the body. Though this does not
mean that asthma is prevented, it has been known over the years that people do
indeed grow out of asthma and therefore the condition is no more.
 EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS OF
ASTHMA
Contraindications:
Asthma is only contraindicated
to massage if you have an
unrelenting asthmatic attack
and respiratory tract
infections. Also if the sufferer
has been taking medication
that does not appear to have
an effect; referral to a doctor is
advised in these situations.
The benefits of exercise
For asthmatics some benefits include an
increase in strength and efficiency of
the Cardiovascular System. It reduces
children’s sensitivity to allergens, a
main concern for asthma sufferers.
Blood circulation is increased and
new blood vessels are created in
heart and muscles.

Some indications for asthma in

some sports would be cycling,
mountain biking, and long-
distance running, which
require good endurance and
would push the limitations of
an asthmatic.
 INTERESTING FACTS
 Asthma deaths are most common in low and middle income countries.

 2.2 million people have asthma, including 1 in 6 children and 1 in 10 adults

 Australia has the 3rd highest prevalence of childhood asthma in the world
 397 died of asthma in 2002 and research has shown that approximately 60% of
asthma deaths are preventable
 Affects 14% of people under 20 and 11% of adults

 Asthma is the leading reason children visit hospital

 One million school days are lost nationally each year due to Asthma
 Asthma costs the Australian community over $700 million each year – in terms
of medical costs and lost productivity
 Is more likely to affect boys (15%) than girls (12%)
 CO MORBIDITY OF ASTHMA
Co morbidity of Asthma
• Atopy
• Bronchitis
• OSA syndrome (chronic
snoring)

How to take co morbidity into account?

There is co-morbidity is related to asthma with diseases such as anxiety attacks and
depression which both affect the individual mentally.
Other co-morbidities which relate to asthma are chronic bronchitis, atopy and
emphysema which has a severe effects on the lungs.
My aim in this program will be to keep my client in a positive mental state, I will aim to
have my client at a high arousal and I will use motivational factors to achieve this.
By doing these things this will, reduce the chances of co-morbidity in relation to
mental effects.
In terms of my clients physical health, by working on his Aerobic system, this will help
build a strong and efficient CV system and reduce any co-morbidities
Exercise program
 Health Professional
Recommendations
In consultation with my allied health
professional (doctor) I have shown
him the exercise program for my
client who is an Asthmatic.
I have kept most of the exercises to
low-moderate intensity levels. I
have stayed away from any
potential dangers that may come
forth and pose as harmful towards
my client, such as cold weather, so
it is preferred to train indoors, it is
imperative for my client to have his
inhaler on him at all times and take
it before an exercise session.
Cease exercise if my client is having any
problems breathing, and always
incorporate pre-warms ups and
cool downs with every exercise
session.
My allied professional recommended
these tips if my client is having
problems on how how to control
Asthma during exercise:
 If you have allergic asthma, avoid
exercising outdoors when pollen
counts are high and when there is
high air pollution.
 Restrict exercise when you have a viral
infection, like a cold.
 Exercise at a level that is appropriate
for them.
 
*Note that all this was consulted with an
Allied Health Professional.
 Resources
 
http://www.ehow.com/how_4841815_build-cardio-stamina-have-asthma.html

http://www.topendsports.com/testing/aerobic.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/asthma/article.htm

http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/content/view/288/652/

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Asthma_and_exercise