Exercise programs

Staying active has many benefits if you have a lung disease or lung cancer. At first you might be worried about exercise, but your health professional can advise you on a safe program that’s right for you. Being active helps you feel better and stay strong, and it reduces symptoms like breathlessness.

Your exercise pathway to better health

To learn how to exercise safely and effectively, follow these four steps:

• Step 1: Ask your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation. It’s an exercise and education program that teaches you how to exercise safely and manage your breathlessness.
• Step 2: Join a 6-8 week pulmonary rehabilitation program that includes exercise, education and how to manage your condition. This program is run by physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and other healthcare professionals.
• Step 3: Attend pulmonary rehabilitation maintenance classes to help maintain the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation
• Step 4: Gradually become independent and manage your own exercise program with what you have learned.

You can be referred back to pulmonary rehabilitation if you experience a flare-up of symptoms later.

Finding an exercise professional

Alternatively, you may wish to see a Respiratory Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist, to support you with an individualised exercise program. These exercise professionals are university qualified allied health professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions for people with chronic medical conditions.

• Find a respiratory physiotherapist here, clicking “Titled/Specialist Physiotherapist” and selecting  a specialist area in “Cardiorespiratory”.
• Find an ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist here, clicking “Area of special interest” and selecting “Respiratory (Asthma – COPD)”.

You may wish to speak to your GP about the possibility of organising a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan to access Medicare subsidised allied health services. Eligible patients can access 5 allied health services (e.g. physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and dietitian etc.) per calendar year.

Why exercise is good for you

For people living with a lung disease or lung cancer, regular exercise:

• Improves your ability to do everyday tasks, increasing your independence
• Reduces your symptoms, such as breathlessness
• Improves your muscle strength and endurance
• Helps to clear your airways, by removing mucus (or sputum) from your chest 
• Improves your balance and lowers your risk of having a fall 
• Improves your mood
• Helps to maintain a healthy weight
• Improves your bone density.

Make exercise part of your daily routine

• Set aside time each day to exercise. You might like to choose a time when your energy levels are high. 
• Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, even if you need to break it into shorter sessions, like 10 minutes at a time
• Increase your physical activity throughout the day, such as taking the stairs, walking or gardening. 
• Choose activities you enjoy. You might like to ask a family member or friend to join you. 
• Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, even if you need to break it into shorter sessions, like 10 minutes at a time
• Talk to your doctor before you start any new exercise program.

Resources

Better living with exercise

COPE: COPD online patient education