In Respirology, lead author Wang Jeng-Shing and colleagues reported setting up a two-study groups of 30 children with asthma. One group received regular asthma treatments: the other received the treatments and also took a six-week swimming course.

The swimming cohort was the group to be in: they scored statistically significantly better at all clinical variables. Plus, the positive results were seen for a year after the six-week course ended.

Kids with asthma are sometimes limited with regards to exercise and sport involvement. But swimming rarely instigates an asthma attack. Plus, aerobic exercise betters the lungs. Next time a pediatrician writes a scrip for an albuterol inhaler, maybe some will also prescribe a few laps.