Barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in pediatric pulmonary hypertension.

Therapeutic exercise has not been widely adopted in pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH), despite adult data supporting its safety and efficacy. While physical limitations may prevent children with PH from participating in physical activity, other barriers to and facilitators of physical activity are unknown. Youth ages 8-18 years with World Symposium of PH diagnostic Groups 1-4, functional class I or II, and ambulatory status were prospectively enrolled in a cross-sectional study including separate 30-min participant and caregiver interviews regarding attitudes toward physical activity and a proposed exercise intervention in pediatric PH.

Creating a digital approach for promoting physical activity in pediatric pulmonary hypertension: A framework for future interventions.

Children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) often demonstrate limited exercise capacity. Data support exercise as an effective nonpharmacologic intervention among adults with PH. However, data on exercise training in children and adolescents are limited, and characteristics of the optimal exercise program in pediatric PH have not been identified.