Slideshow: 10 Smart Exercises for People With COPD

[jade]

www.webmd.com/lung/copd/ss/slideshow-copd-exercises





Exercise to Breathe Easier

With COPD, the less you do, the less you're able to do. Weak muscles need more oxygen, so you can become short of breath just shopping or cooking. Exercise changes that. When your muscles are stronger, daily activities are easier.

[John]

Thanks jade I.m going to star doing some of these 

[sharon]

I just did 10 weeks of pulmonary rehab  and had a hard time the whole time but still continue to exercise. I am so much more sob anymore, guess its my new normal. It gets so hard to get up and exercise but I know it helps some.

[lavishgail]

Oh, I hate to exercise. But I know I should, everyone tells me, so I do the best I can I do some stuff in bed with my legs and arms but since I've gotten into this pain I can't do anything until they find out what's wrong with me. When I was in the hospital I know I lost a lot of muscle even after five days.

[jade]

It is really hard to stay motivated to do exercise,when you are feeling unwell.I have found something that works for me.Just 5. min in the morning and 5 min in the evening.That makes 300 min per one months.Rewards feels good.I got the page from the free wall calendar and write my achievements.Then maybe increase next month 10 min in the morning.Just something we like or not to strenuous.

[jarca]

good tips.
I would like to add a couple of tips I've learned the hard way.
1. if you buy ankle or wrist weights, start slowly!!!! ---I thought if I wore the wrist while i was on the computer it would 'help' me gain strength. Well, i didn't set a timer & when on the computer time flies by so i ended up wearing them for over 4 hours the 1st time! amazing how adding 2lbs to each wrist the pain that i experienced for the next week!!! (a 'jarca moment')
2. same with ankle weights.
3. If you wear supplemental 02 it is best to wear your 'travel pack' so you don't trip or get 'wound up' in the 02 lines.
4. Own an oximeter & use it often to check your 02! (i wear my "fanny pack", but i have ran out of 02 in the tank & have had it just come 'unhooked' from the regulator ----checking my sp02 often lets me know if i am getting low before i start feeling the effects)
5. of course, check with your Dr.!!! I also have chronic pain & when I took a 'list" of exercises to him, he crossed off several & told me 'alternative' ones I could do so I would not 'aggravate' some of my other conditions.
Walking is my favorite exercise & I have learned to 'pace myself' as I strive for endurance, not speed. However, as my lungs get worse I find that outdoors isn't always good for my breathing. So there was a time that i cleared a 'figure 8' path through 3 rooms of my house that i would strap on my fanny pack & be able to walk at a steady speed. I started looking into treadmills & found that my local department store carries several that are 'good enough' for what i needed, had 'sales' on them a couple times a year AND!!!---i could put it on lay away & pay it off slowly over a few months!! = Best $300.00 'investment' i ever made! ---( it does pay to researched the cheaper models)
The one thing i found out with a treadmill though is even if it says it can "fold up & has wheels" to move or put under your bed= HAH! those things are heavy! I cleared an area that i could leave mine set up all the time as if i did fold it up & put it somewhere it would be 'out of sight, out of mind' and such a hassle to set up & take down i'd never use it.
I have 'limited' room in my house, so I can't buy a lot of equipment to exercise. I also have what is called a "peddler" which is just a set of bicycle pedals that you sit in a chair to use. It has a knob to adjust how hard or easy they are to peddle. I have seen them on sale for as low as $15.99 so shop around if you like that idea.
Of course, when I can, my favorite exercise is to go outside & murder weeds.....i figure i get my walking in & waste & arm exercises pumping up the hand sprayer. or if on ATV mine is tough to steer & getting on off to 'reach' weeds gives me plenty of exercise; and so fulfilling to murder the stickery things heh heh heh

Gail; I understand how hard it is to get going again after being down & losing muscle tone (especially when my feet go & i can barely walk!); did they send you home with some 'chair exercises'? ( i used to have a really good site of 'easy starter chair exercises that i had saved from when i cared for my mom in her final months---darn new computer i don't have my bookmarks any more :/ )
Sharon; I am so sorry to hear that you are so SOB still. Did the Pulm Rehab help at all? (i've heard that not all pulm rehabs are created equal & I don't have anything like that available where i live; just phys. therapy & they don't always understand how breathing patients should work out)