ABSTRACT
Bronchiectasis is typically associated with considerable morbidity, reduced exercise capacity, and may impact upon quality of life. Children with cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common cause of childhood bronchiectasis, are now living longer than ever before. Given the functional and prognostic importance of aerobic fitness as well as peripheral and respiratory muscle function in people with CF, extensive research has sought to establish a toolkit of safe and accurate exercise tests to advance our understanding of the pathophysiology and inform strategies to improve or ameliorate the functional abilities of those with CF. Following an introductory overview of how the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis may affect a child's ability to exercise, this chapter provides a contemporary review of the toolkit of exercise tests available. Of course, it is not always possible, or, indeed, necessary, to measure everything in everyone, but this chapter aims to provide current best practice recommendations to comprehensively assess physical function in young people with bronchiectasis.
