The effect of combined continuous run, circuit training, and high-intensity interval training on lung function, asthma control, and VO2max in asthma patients: A quasi-experimental study

Background: The serious implications of asthma stem largely from inadequate control of the condition, affecting individuals with both regular and irregular physical activities. Objective: This study aims to assess the effect of Continuous Run (CR), Circuit Training (CT), and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) over a 3-month period on reducing, controlling, and improving fitness in individuals with asthma. Methods: The research employed a quasi-experimental study design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The treatment involved physical exercise programs (CR, CT, and HIIT) conducted at the athletic field of Padang State University from June 2023 to August 2023. A total of 21 participants (16 males and 5 females) were recruited to participate in this research. They were chosen after meeting inclusion criteria-asthma diagnosis, physical inactivity, between 17 and 40 years old, willingness to refrain from other treatments except using an inhaler in case of relapse, and providing informed consent. Participants who willingly signed and completed the study were distributed to treatment groups, receiving the same exercise program with identical dosages and intensities of CR, CT, and HIIT. The exercise program lasted 75 minutes per session, three times a week for 12 weeks. Data were collected using several instruments. First, spirometry was employed to examine lung function (Forced Vital Capacity [FVC] and Forced Expiratory Volume in one second [FEV1]) with a cut-point of 0.75. Meanwhile, asthma symptom control was measured by the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), and VO2Max was assessed through a 2.4-kilometer run. The data were then analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test through the IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Results: All participants completed the combined CR, CT, and HIIT exercise program over 12 weeks. Data analysis revealed significant improvement in lung function, with the average FVC score increasing from 61.62 ± 7.37 to 81.90 ± 4.06, representing a 35.52% increase. Furthermore, the pretest and posttest FVC results indicated an increase from 71.09 ± 4.75 to 90.00 ± 4.46, corresponding to a 27.17% reduction in FVC score, suggesting enhanced lung function. ACQ scores demonstrated a decrease from 1.58 ± 0.17 to 1.20 ± 0.13, representing a 23.34% reduction. Inferential statistical tests revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) between pretest and posttest values for FEV1, FVC, ACQ, and VO2Max in each group. Conclusion: The CR, CT, a