[Judo in a training group for children with asthma].

15 asthmatics of 7-14 years of age were trained in a special judo training group together with healthy children. The step-like training programme was composed in such a manner that an exercise-induced bronchospasm was kept as low as possible whereas the coordination, flexibility, physical and psychical resistance were improved. By means of adapted lung function tests the children were controlled, the aim was not so much to prove an improvement of functional values but rather to avoid injuries. Reactions confirmed by means of the sensitive flow-volume curve method did not present any clinical problems. Exercise-induced reactions occurred most frequently, if at all, after a warming-up phase and in the middle of the 14 training weeks. Both at the end of every lesson and at the end of the whole training course the number and internity of reactions decreased. Children suffering from exercise-induced asthma could be trained by means of judo sport without any problems. A combatant sport, such as judo, is particularly qualified for the improvement of motivation, coordination, dexterity and integration into the community of healthy children to increase self-confidence. Asthma sport groups are a medical and paedagogical necessity.