A randomised trial with intention-to-treat analysis and
assessor blinding was conducted. Participants were
recruited from children who attended day rehabilitation at
the Shafa Rehabilitation Centre in Semnan, Iran. After their
eligibility was confirmed, participants were familiarised
with the spirometry procedure for one week before
baseline measurements were conducted. Following this,
participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups
by flipping a coin. Eligibility was therefore determined a
week before group allocation was randomly determined,
thus allowing concealed allocation. The experimental
group undertook eight weeks of aerobic exercise while the
control group carried out their usual activities. Outcomes
were measured at baseline and after the 8-week intervention
by a physiotherapist with more than five years of clinical
experience who was blinded to group allocation throughout
the study. Participants and the staff supervising the exercise
sessions were not blinded to group allocation.