Investigating the inflammatory response to exercise in CF patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the inflammatory response to a 6-week exercise programme in children and adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis.
IRAS ID
224165
Contact name
Melitta McNarry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
REIS
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 26 days
Research summary
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease characterised by excessively thick mucus in the CF airway leading to airway obstruction, inflammation, recurring infections and progressive functional decline. There is agreement that physical inactivity may accelerate the severity of the disease, with aerobic capacity identified as a key predictor of survival in CF patients. As such, rehabilitative exercise programmes are advocated by the CF trust. However, most exercise programmes focus on low intensity aerobic exercise. These exercise models require significant time investments, with ‘no time to play’ being cited as the main barrier to engagement. This highlights the potential application of high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE), which has been shown to be equally, if not more, effective as aerobic training in enhancing exercise capacity with a significantly reduced time commitment.
HIIE is characterised by short bursts of vigorous intensity exercise, interspersed with periods of rest or low-intensity recovery exercise. Whilst information in a CF population is limited, a recent case study reported good tolerance of 6 weeks of HIIE in a CF patient (Hulzebos et al., 2009). Similarly, HIIE has been determined as ‘effective and safe’, even in severely affected adults (Gruber et al., 2014). However, exercise is known to stimulate an inflammatory response in healthy people that can be linked to muscle catabolism. Given that CF is characterised by chronic inflammation and lower fat-free mass, any theoretical benefits must be counterbalanced against the potential exercise-induced activation of the same markers involved in the disease. Whilst current literature highlights that HIIE exhibits a dampened inflammatory response compared to aerobic exercise, studies have focused on the acute effect of a single bout of exercise and, thus, further understanding of the inflammatory response and its relationship with exercise intensity and duration is crucial for development of effective exercise prescriptions for those with CF.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0124
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion