What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease. It affects mainly the lungs and digestive tract.
CF causes a build-up of thick mucus in the lungs, which leads to breathing troubles. Mucus in the lungs also benefits bacteria that are responsible for infections. A child with CF may have cycles of infection.
Thick mucus also blocks the ducts of the pancreas. This blocks digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. This can increase the risk of malnutrition and delayed development in patients with CF.
Why exercise is important in CF treatment
Exercise benefits us all, but people with CF benefit even more from being physically active because exercise can:
- slow the rate of decline in lung function, which means children with CF may keep good lung function longer.
- help clear mucus from the lungs, allowing for easier breathing.
- create more reserve for the whole body to rely on, during periods of lung infection. This means that someone who is fit may be able to resume their activity faster following a bout of illness.
If you have CF, being physically active will not just make you feel better, it will improve your quality of life.
How to get the most out of exercise
There are many types of exercise and each has different benefits. Knowing which exercises will best treat your CF is very helpful. The following are different types of exercise:
- Endurance: Activities done for extended periods. These make everyday tasks easier.
- Chest mobility: Activities done to loosen up the chest cavity. These make it easier to breathe.
- Core strengthening: Activities using muscles of the abdominal (belly) wall. These improve posture and breathing.
- Leg strengthening: Activities using leg muscles. These make everyday tasks easier to perform.
- Breathing exercises: Activities done to stretch the lungs. These make breathing feel easier.
Exercises for babies and toddlers
Endurance:
- Crawling or climbing up stairs
- Toys pushed by child
- Water play or infant swim classes
- Encourage walking and standing during play
Chest mobility:
- Crawl under or over various surfaces
- Reach overhead with both hands to grab objects
- Do activities lying on stomach
- Throw balls
Core strengthening:
- Roll
- Sit independently
- Push or pull toys
Leg strengthening
- Climb up and down on couch, bed or playground
- Bounce or jump during play
- Play in squat position
Breathing exercises:
- Sing songs using high and low pitches
- Hold a sound for as long as you can
- Blow bubbles
- Pretend to blow out candles
Exercises for preschoolers and school-aged children
Endurance:
- Games such as tag, hide and seek and red light/green light
- Bike, scooter and skateboard
- Enroll in sport, dance or outdoor programs
Chest mobility:
- Practice ball skills: throwing, catching and dribbling
- Hit a ball with a bat
- Rolling on a Swiss ball
Core strengthening:
- Push or pull games such as tug-of-war
- Climb at playground
- Crab walk
Leg strengthening:
- Jumping games such as hopscotch, long jump, jump rope and trampoline
- Walk up and down hills
- Jumping jacks
Breathing exercises:
- Blow up balloons
- Contests for holding breath and holding a note
- Play a wind instrument
Exercises for pre-teens, teens and adults
Endurance:
- Go for walks or runs
- Get involved in organized sports or clubs
- Swim lessons or recreational swimming
- Cardio classes at health clubs
Chest mobility:
- Yoga
- Shooting a basketball
- Swinging a baseball bat, golf club or tennis racquet
Core strengthening:
- Sit-ups, crunches and plank pose
- Pilates
- Sitting on a Swiss ball
Leg strengthening:
- Plyometrics: standing jumps, long jumps, side jumps, etc.
- Run up hills or stairs
- Squats
- Obstacle courses
Breathing exercises:
- Play a wind instrument
- Take singing lessons
Sneaky fitness
"Sneaky fitness" is a great way to exercise without taking time out of your day. Examples include taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, changing television stations without using the remote, and standing or stretching during commercial breaks.
Physical activity, exercise and your CF team
There are many people on your CF care team with whom you can talk about physical activity and exercise.
- Physiotherapists teach different ways to keep your airways clear of secretions. They also work with you to make fun physical activity and exercise part of your everyday life.
- Exercise physiologists use tests to understand how your body works when it exercises. From these tests, they can suggest areas where you can get stronger. You will see them in the exercise testing lab once a year when you are tall enough to ride a stationary bike.
- Dietitians teach you how eating and taking extra enzymes give you the energy you need to be active and strong.
More information
For more information, visit the following:
- CF Canada: www.cysticfibrosis.ca
- CF Foundation: www.cff.org
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology: www.csep.ca – see Physical Activity option