New research presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) significantly improves functioning and quality of life in children with chronic respiratory conditions, regardless of whether lung function itself improves.
The findings provide new insights into the role of PR for pediatric patients and support the feasibility of these programs for children with chronic respiratory conditions, said first author Tauras Vucianis, a third-year medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He noted that while pulmonary rehabilitation in adults is well established, less is known about how children can benefit.
The key takeaway is that pediatric PR significantly improves how children function and feel, with increased exercise capacity, strength, and quality of life - even when traditional lung function testing doesn't change."
Tauras Vucianis, Study First Author and Medical Student, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a common part of treatment for adults with respiratory conditions, especially in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, but pediatric programs are rare. Challenges include a lack of standardized protocols and the need for more individualized exercise programs tailored to each patient's age, behavior and functional capacity.
For the study, researchers tracked outcomes among 51 children who were enrolled in a pediatric PR program and completed at least five sessions.
Participants showed significant improvement in exercise capacity and also reported considerable improvement in quality of life. Notably, spirometry, a key measure of lung function, remained stable but didn't improve, Mr. Vucianis said.
"This highlights that meaningful clinical improvement extends beyond spirometry and supports PR as an important component of care for children with chronic respiratory disease," he said.
Patient and caregiver satisfaction with the program was very high, he added, supporting its acceptability and feasibility.
"One of the main goals of our program is to increase patients' confidence in the self-management of their disease, and to promote physical activity outside of the medical facility," he said. "We are always thrilled to hear when our former participants are continuing to implement their own exercise programs long after their PR sessions have ended."
The team members plan to continue their research, which includes studies examining the impact of pediatric PR on other outcomes, the sustainability of PR benefits over time, and the optimal timing of PR among children with chronic respiratory diseases.
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