Lung Exercises for Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Starting an aerobic-exercise program is a little overwhelming for someone with pulmonary fibrosis. Take it slow when you are starting out with a new exercise program and increase your endurance over time. The ultimate goal to help strengthen heart and lung function is 30 minutes of aerobic activity at least three times a week. Walking and biking are two activities that can be incorporated in a healthy lifestyle very easily. If you have been inactive for a while, start with 10 minutes and add a few minutes to your routine every day or every week. The progression of your program is up to you. Choose walking for an easy way to include exercise in your daily schedule. Spending this time on cardiovascular activity helps to increase your endurance and strength.
- Also include some weight training two days a week to increase your muscle mass. Increased muscle mass improves blood flow to your muscles and uses oxygen in your blood more efficiently. Do not train with weights on the same muscles two days in a row, or you will not have any muscle growth. Muscles must have time to recover between workouts.
- Rehabilitation from pulmonary fibrosis includes learning how to breathe properly. Because many people do not breathe in the most efficient way, they expend more energy just trying to bring air into their lungs.
Most people use only the upper portion of the lungs when breathing and do not have the ability to take a true deep breath. The muscles needed to breathe with both the upper and lower portions of the lungs have become weak over time and will need strength training. Breathing exercises help to strengthen these muscles and teach you how to breathe fully.