Table 1

Characteristics of the included studies

Author (year)	Intervention	N I/C	Mean age, years (range)*	Outcome measures
Ahmaidi (1993)26	▸ Running on an outdoor track on Vth ▸ 3 months, 3/week, 60 min/session	N=20 10/10	15.2 (12–17)	▸ Cardiorespiratory: W_max, Vth, VO_2max, O₂pulse_max, HR_max
Basaran (2006)3	▸ Moderately intensive basketball training ▸ 8 weeks, 3/week, 60 min/session	N=62 31/31	10.4 (7–15)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁, FVC, MEF, PEF ▸ Medication and symptom scores, PAQLQ, PWC170, 6MWT
Chang (2008)27	▸ Tai Chi Chuan. I.N.S. ▸ 12 weeks, 3/week, 40 min/session	N=30 15/15	I=9.1,C=9.4	▸ Pulmonary: FVC, FEV₁, PEF ▸ Symptom severity
Counil (2003)28	▸ Individualised aerobic training on a cycle ergometer at AT heart rate ▸ 6 weeks, 3/week, 45 min/session	N=16 9/7	13 (10–16)	▸ Pulmonary:FEV₁, FVC, FEF_25–75, sGaw, V₅₀, FRC, dFEV₁ ▸ Aerobic fitness: VO_2max, MAP, HR_max, VE_max, VR, AT, VO₂ at AT, O₂pulse. Anaerobic fitness: PP, F₀, V₀
Dean (1988)29	▸ Course of physical activity. I.N.S. ▸ 5 days	N=21 11/10	No data on age	▸ Pulmonary: PEF. Bronchial lability ▸ Diary cards (wheeze, activity, medication)
Edenbrandt (1990)30	▸ Circuits, game, swimming. I.N.S. ▸ 12 months, 1/week, 60 min/session	N=41 20/21	Age range: (7–13)	▸ Pulmonary: VC, FEV₁, VTGCardiorespiratory: working capacity
Fanelli (2007)31	▸ Aerobic exercise training. HR at 2/3 of the Δ AT-RCP ▸ 16 weeks, 2/week, 90 min/session	N=38 21/17	11.5 (7–15)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁, FEV₁%, FVC %, MVV ▸ EIB: FEV₁ decline. Inhaled steroids use, PAQLQ ▸ Cardiorespiratory: W, VO₂, O₂ pulse, dyspnoea
Fitch (1986)32	▸ Running and running games at intensity (HR_rest+75%(HR_max−HR_rest)). ▸ 3 months, 4/week, 60 min/session	N=26 10/16	11.9 (10–14)	▸ Pulmonary: minute ventilation, mean Vt ▸ Cardiorespiratory fitness: VO₂max ▸ Mass, body fat
Graff)Lonnevig (1980)33	▸ Circuit training. I.N.S. ▸ 20 months, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=20 11/9	11.2 (9.2–13.6)	▸ Pulmonary: TLC, FVC, FEV₁. Haemoglobin, heart volume ▸ Cardiorespiratory: W_max VO_2max, VE_max, HR_max.
Henriksen (1983)34	▸ Physical training programmes. I.N.S. ▸ 6 weeks, 2/week, 90 min/session	N=42 28/14	I=11, C=10	▸ Pulmonary: Resting PEF, FEV₁ ▸ EIB: FEV₁ and PEF. Cardiorespiratory fitness: HR_rest, HR_max
Holzer (1984)35	▸ Home exercise programme of sprints, push-ups and running. I.N.S. ▸ 3 months, daily, 30 min/day	N=69 37/32	Age range=(8–14)	▸ Pulmonary: FVC, FEV₁, FEF_25–75% ▸ MIP, MEP ▸ Cardiorespiratory: W_max, V(C)O_2max, VE_max, RQ, HR_max
Huang (1989)36	▸ Swimming. I.N.S. ▸ 2 months, 3/week, 60 min/session	N=90 45/45	Age range=(6–12)	▸ Emergency room visit, hospitalisations, daily medications, school absenteeism, wheezing, Asthma attacks
King (1989)37	▸ Stretching, calisthenics, strength and breathing exercises, interval training. I.N.S. ▸ 3 months, 2/week, 90 min/session	N=12 6/6	I=13.0 (SD 0.94), C=11.7 (SD 1.2)	▸ EIB: FEV_1,, FVC, PEFR, MMEF decline ▸ Cardiorespiratory: VO_2max, peak treadmill running velocity, lactate. Medication usage, asthma episodes
Lima (2008)38	▸ Respiratory therapy at 40% of MIP ▸ 7 weeks, 2/week, 50 min/session	N=50 25/25	9.7 (8–12)	▸ Pulmonary: PEF ▸ MIP, MEP, Severity variables
Matsumoto (1999)39	▸ Swimming at 125% of personalised LT ▸ 6 weeks, 6/week, 30 min/session	N=16 8/8	10.2 (8–12)	▸ Aerobic capacity (work load at LT), BHP ▸ EIB: FEV₁ decline
Moreira (2008)40	▸ Submaximal aerobic training. I.N.S. ▸ 12 weeks, 2/week, 50 min/session	N=34 17/17	12.7	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁, FEF_25–75, Highest PEF amplitude ▸ Inflammation, BHP, PAQLQ+PACQLQ
Neder (1999)41	▸ Aerobic ergometer training at or above individualised AT ▸ 2 months, 3/week, 30 min/session	N=42 26/16	12.4 (8–16)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁. EIB: FEV₁ decline ▸ Cardiorespiratory: VO_{2max %pred}, VO_2max, VO2 at AT/VO_2max, O₂ pulse. Medication score >3
Onur (2010)42	▸ Bicycle training at 80% of submax HR ▸ 8 weeks, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=30 15/15	9.8 (8–13)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁%, FVC%. Oxidant stress: MDA, NO ▸ Antioxidant markers: GSH-Px, SOD
Orenstein (1985)43	▸ Running programme at 70–85% of personalised HR_maxo 4 months, 3/week, 30 min/session	N=36 23/13	Age range=(6–16)	▸ Pulmonary: VC, FEV₁/FVC, MVV ▸ Cardiorespiratory: VO_2peak, O₂pulse_peak, HR_60W, HR_peak, RER_peak, working capacity. Asthma severity
Sidiropoulou (2007)44	▸ Interval soccer training alternating 100 s 50–60% with 20 s 80–90% HR_max ▸ 8 weeks, 3/week, 45 min/session	N=29 18/11	11.3 (10–14)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁ ▸ 6 min running test
Silva (2006)45	▸ Physical training, swim training. I.N.S. ▸ 4 months, 2/week, 90 min/session	N=69 46/23	Age range=(8–11)	▸ 9 min run distance ▸ Cardiorespiratory fitness: HR_rest. Number of sit ups
Sly (1972)46	▸ Swimming and breath exercises. I.N.S. ▸ 3 months, 3/week, 120 min/session	N=24 12/12	Age range=(9–13)	▸ Pulmonary: VC, FEV₁ ▸ Children's Personality Questionnaire, wheezing frequency
Svenonius (1983)47	▸ 30 min. intervals of intense exercises (HR=170 bpm) and relaxation and 30 min swimming. I.N.S. ▸ 3–4 months, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=50 40(15+12+13)/10	Age range=(8–17)	▸ Pulmonary: VC, TLC, FRC, FEV_1, FEV₁%, LCI, WOV, VTG, VTG/TLC%, VTG/VC%, RV ▸ EIB: FEV₁ decline and VTG increase ▸ Cardiorespiratory: working capacity
Varray (1991)48	▸ 2×3 months swim training, aerobic at Vth swim velocity and HI at max speed ▸ 6 months, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=14 7/7	11.4	▸ Pulmonary: FVC, FEV₁, MEF₅₀, FEF_25–75, FEF_25–75/FVC ▸ Cardiorespiratory: VO_2max, VE_max, Vth, O₂pulse_max, HR_max
Varray (1995)49	▸ Swimming at Vth swim velocity ▸ 3 months, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=18 9/9	I=11.7, C=11.7	▸ Pulmonary: FVC, FEV₁, FEF_25–75%, FEF_25–75%/FVC ▸ Cardiorespiratory: VO_2max, Vth, VE_max
van Veldhoven (2001)2	▸ Physical exercise programme and home exercises. I.N.S. ▸ 3 months, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=47 23/24	10.6 (8–13)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁(%)_,FVC, PEF, MEF_{25 and 50} ▸ Cardiorespiratory: W_max, VO_2max, VE_max, RER, AT, O₂pulse_max, HR_60W, VE/VO_2max. EIB: FEV₁ decline ▸ Endurance test: Time_max and HR. CBSK, ACBT
Wang (2009)50	▸ Swimming. I.N.S. ▸ 6 weeks, 3/week, 50 min/session	N=30 15/15	10 (9–11)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁, FEF₅₀, FEF_25–75, FVC ▸ Daily PEF. Severity of asthma
Weisgerber (2003)51	▸ Swimming. I.N.S. ▸ 5/6 weeks, 2/week, 45 min/session	N=8 5/3	I=8.4, C=7.3	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁, FVC, PEF, FEF_25–75% ▸ Asthma symptoms questionnaire
Wicher (2010)52	▸ Swimming. I.N.S. ▸ 3 months, 2/week, 60 min/session	N=61 30/31	10.4 (7–18)	▸ Pulmonary: FEV₁, FVC, FEF_25–75%, ▸ Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine

*Age was expressed as mean age (age range) in years, unless otherwise stated.
6MWT, 6 min walk test; ACBT, asthma coping test; AT, anaerobic threshold; BHP, bronchial histamine provocation test; bpm, beats per minute; CBSK, Self-Perception Profile for Children to measure perceived competence; C, control group; EIB, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction; F_o, maximal breaking mass the individual can theoretically handle; FEF_25–75, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity; FEF_50,, forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity; FEV₁%, FEV₁ in % of VC; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; dFEV₁, change in FEV₁ 15 min after the incremental exercise test; FRC, functional residual capacity; FVC, forced vital capacity; sGaw, specific conductance; GSH-Px, glutathione peroxidase; HI, high intensity; HR, heart rate; HR_60W, heart rate at workload 60 W; HR_max, maximal HR; HR_peak, peak HR; HR_rest, resting HR; I.N.S, intensity not stated; I, intervention group; LCI (WOV/FRC), lung clearance index; LT, lactate threshold; MAP, maximal aerobic power; MDA, malondialdehyde; MEF, maximum expiratory flow; MEF₂₅, maximal expiratory flow after an expiration of 75% of the FVC; MEF₅₀, maximal expiratory flow after an expiration of 50% of the FVC; MEP, maximal expiratory pressure; Min, minute; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure; MMEF, maximal midexpiratory flowrate; MVV, maximum voluntary ventilation; NO, nitric oxide; O₂pulse, oxygen pulse; O₂pulse_max, maximum oxygen pulse; O₂pulse_peak, peak oxygen pulse; PACQLQ, Paediatric asthma caregiver's quality of life questionnaire; PAQLQ, Paediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire; PEF, peak expiratory flow; PP, peak power; PWC 170 test, physical work capacity at a heart rate of 170 bpm; RCP, respiratory compensation point; RER, respiratory exchange ratio; RER_peak, respiratory exchange ratio at peak work; RQ, respiratory quotient; RV, residual volume; SOD, Superoxide dismutase; Time_max, total running time; TLC, total lung capacity; V₀, maximal cycling velocity theoretically obtained if the breaking mass was null; V₅₀, expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity; VC, vital capacity; VCO_2max, maximal CO₂ output; VE_max, maximal minute ventilation; VO₂, oxygen uptake; VO_2max, maximal oxygen uptake; VO_{2max %pred}, predicted maximal ouptake; VO_2peak, peak oxygen consumption; VR, ventilatory reserve; VTG, volume of trapped gas; Vth, ventilatory threshold; W, power; W_max, maximum power; WOV, wash out volume.