National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) Practice Exam

What strategy can be used to manage exercise-induced asthma in a volleyball player requiring albuterol after every practice?

1. Provide education on a ten-minute warm-up and cool-down

2. Provide education on breathing holding techniques

3. Provide education on diaphragm strengthening exercises

4. Provide education on alternative physical activities such as swimming

The correct answer is: Provide education on a ten-minute warm-up and cool-down

A ten-minute warm-up and cool-down can be an effective strategy to manage exercise-induced asthma, particularly for athletes such as volleyball players. This approach serves several important functions. Firstly, a proper warm-up increases body temperature and cardiovascular efficiency, which can enhance lung function and reduce the likelihood of bronchospasm during physical activity. As the respiratory system is gradually adapted to increased levels of activity, this transition can help mitigate the sudden exposure to exercise-induced triggers. Secondly, a cool-down period allows the body, particularly the respiratory system, to gradually return to a resting state. This transition helps in reducing abrupt changes that can provoke asthma symptoms. It also allows for a more controlled return to baseline heart and respiratory rates, further reducing the risk of triggering asthma responses. While breathing holding techniques, diaphragm strengthening exercises, and alternative physical activities may have their own benefits in specific contexts, the immediate applicability of warm-up and cool-down routines directly addresses the rhythm of exercise engagement inherent in sports like volleyball, making it the most suitable answer in this context.