Exercise & Lung Conditions

Lung conditions do not discriminate; they affect men, women, children, smokers, non-smokers, and people who have never smoked. Lung disease in Australia is common and often underestimated.

There are many lung conditions including but not limited to: COPD, Lung Cancer, Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Interstitial Lung diseases, Pleural Mesothelioma, Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).

Why it’s important to exercise

People who have a chronic lung disease often find it difficult to stay active due to feelings of breathlessness and fatigue, even with low intensity physical activity. Inactivity leads to deconditioning, worsening breathlessness and further inactivity – a vicious cycle.

By exercising and being active, people with lung conditions can break this cycle, increasing their fitness and muscle strength. This helps to to improve symptoms and make being active feel easier. Importantly, people who stay active can reduce their risk of future hospital admissions.

People with lung conditions should aim to meet the Australian government recommendations for physical activity and sedentary behaviour. That is, 150 minutes of physical activity per week, while breaking up prolonged periods of sitting or lying time. It may take time to build up to 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Intermittent activity with frequent rest breaks can help to achieve the 150 minutes.

Whole body aerobic exercise like walking or cycling are important aspects of an exercise program for respiratory health and should be combined with resistance-based exercise. Care should be taken to carefully progress upper limb exercises, as these can be difficult for people with lung conditions.

Exercise will help to:

• Improve your breathing
• Clear mucus (or sputum) from your chest
• Reduce your breathlessness during daily activities
• Make your heart stronger and healthier
• Increase the number of activities that you are able to do each day or each week
• Improve your balance
• Improve your mood and make you feel more in control
• Make you more independent
• Assist your weight control

Things to remember:

Inspiratory muscle weakness

Inspiratory muscle weakness can be a contributor to exercise intolerance and breathlessness in people with chronic lung disease. Inspiratory muscle training can help to increase the strength and endurance of inspiratory muscles. This involves breathing through a specialised device, which applies a pre-set level of resistance to inspiration. Around 15 minutes is recommended, taking rest breaks when needed. Inspiratory muscle training can be particularly helpful for people who find traditional exercise difficult. Inspiratory muscle training can be a bridge to more traditional exercise training.

Oxyhemoglobin Desaturation

Some people with chronic lung disease might experience oxyhemoglobin desaturation during exercise, therefore, assessment with pulse oximetry is recommended for initial exercise training. Depending on the level of oxygen saturation, supplemental oxygen therapy may be required during exercise. In the absence of prescribed supplemental oxygen therapy, interval training or cycling can help to prevent oxygen desaturation during exercise.

Inhaled Medication Prior to Exercise

People with asthma or COPD should always take their inhaled medications as prescribed before exercise. For people with asthma (particularly those with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction), it is recommended to take their reliever inhaler, e.g., Ventolin, 15-minutes prior to starting exercise. This helps to open up the airways and prevent bronchoconstriction during exercise.

Breathlessness can be distressing

In the event that someone experiences high levels of breathlessness, leaning forward and resting the forearms on a bench or the back of a chair can help to support the muscles of breathing and reduce breathlessness.