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 with multigroup pretest-posttest design. 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 (FEV1), 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 FEV1 values (F (2,64)=6.80; p=0.91; p<0.01, ?2=0.18), and significant differences between CONTROL and AQUA groups (p<0.01) and CONTROL and LAND groups (p<0.05) for FEV1 (F(2,64)=6.96; p=0.91; p<0.01, ?2=0.18). Repetitions-Groups interactions for FEV1/%FVC (F(2,64)=0.71, p=0.162, p>0.05,?2=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.
