Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or COPD for short, is a common respiratory disease. Patients with COPD often feel shortness of breath and laborious breathing.
Many people are reluctant to take part in sports, The decrease in exercise further weakens the cardiovascular function of COPD patients, As a result of this vicious circle, The patient became more and more reluctant to move, Breathing is becoming more and more difficult. So for COPD patients, Exercise is essential to recovery. It can not only break the vicious circle of [getting less and less willing to move], It can also improve the cardiopulmonary function of patients, To improve the quality of life. The exercise of COPD patients is mainly based on strength, But be careful to do what you can. The following are our exercise guidelines for COPD patients. Before exercise: To develop exercise habits, COPD patients should first make exercise a part of their lives. They should exercise at least 3 times a week. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, including aerobic exercise and strength training. If you feel unwell during exercise, it is beneficial to change to a relaxed exercise method, even if you only exercise for 1 minute. Ways to maintain exercise habits include: finding partners to exercise with; Make a daily exercise plan; Write a sports diary. Exercise: What are the ways to exercise? No matter what kind of sport you play, Stretching activities should be carried out before exercise. 1. Whole body exercise walking is a very suitable exercise for COPD patients. Whether in the outdoors, shopping malls, Or on the treadmill, Walking can be carried out everywhere, It’s very convenient. At first, you can try to walk 30 seconds or 10 meters more every day. Even walking slowly is good for health. Cycling is a very suitable exercise tool for COPD patients. It is best to start with the guidance of a professional coach or doctor. Fixed bicycles in gyms or rehabilitation centers begin to practice. After making progress, You can try riding a traditional bicycle outdoors for a ride. If you feel shortness of breath while riding a bicycle, Stop immediately and sit down and rest for a while. Chair dancing If you like dancing, You can try to learn this kind of armchair dance. Accompanied by jazz or street dance, Different courses may have different exercise effects, Improve heart and lung function, exercise muscles, It may have double effects. It is suggested that beginners start learning from simple movements. The movements of Taijiquan are gentle, smooth and flowing. It is very suitable for COPD patients. Taijiquan has little load on heart and lung. It helps to exercise muscles, It also relieves stress, Help relax, It is especially suitable for COPD patients who are prone to anxiety and impatience. 2. Upper limb exercise can exercise arm strength by lifting lighter objects. Dumbbells, elastic bandages or water bottles are all tools for exercising arms. Essentials of Arm Bending Movement: Holding a heavy object in each hand, Palm forward, Inhale, bend your elbows, Lift the weight to your chest, Exhale slowly again, Then inhale, At the same time, slowly lower your arms. Do 2 groups at each exercise. Repeat this action 10 ~ 15 times for each group. Essentials of arm horizontal lifting: Holding a heavy object with both hands facing inward, Lay flat on both sides of your body. Inhale and then exhale slowly. At the same time, raise your arms flat to the same height as your shoulders. Then inhale, Slowly lower your arms. This action will strengthen the upper limbs and shoulders. Do 2 groups at a time, Do it 10-15 times per group. You can start with lighter objects. Gradually increase the weight of the object every 2 ~ 3 weeks to strengthen the muscle load. 3. Lower limb exercises do more leg exercises at ordinary times. Strengthen the legs, It will make walking far and easy. Stand on tiptoe 15 ~ 30 cm behind a strong chair. Stand on tiptoe, Keep your heel off the ground. Essentials: Keep your balance, Take a breath, Stand on tiptoe again, Exhale slowly, Stay on tiptoe for a moment and then let your heel fall to the ground. As you do better and better, Try one-leg exercises. Do two groups at a time, Do 10 ~ 15 times for each group. Essentials of stretching thighs: Sitting in a chair, Stay back and inhale. Exhale slowly while one leg is as straight as possible. Knees don’t sway, Then slowly put down your legs, Inhale. Do it on each leg. As it gets easier, You can add weight to your ankles. Do 2 groups at a time, Do 10 ~ 15 times in each group. 4. Pay attention to the correct breathing style during exercise. Breathe slowly. Shut up, Inhale through your nose, This allows the air to be moist and filtered. Exhale twice with your mouth every time you inhale through your nose. Don’t gasp for breath. Breathing will prevent the lungs from exhausting all the gas. If breathing becomes fast and shallow, Stop for a rest, Relax your body, Do shut-up breathing (shut-up breathing means closing your lips tightly, Slowly inhale and exhale through your nose). After exercise: Note Stretching You can try this stretching exercise: Put your arms straight to shoulder height and push the wall flat. Step forward and bend your right knee, Tighten your left knee until you feel a slight stretch in your lower leg, But don’t let yourself feel pain. Keep this movement for 10-30 seconds, Change your left leg again, Take turns to do your left and right legs 3-5 times. Note 1. Patients may worry that using oxygen inhalation equipment while exercising is troublesome and unsafe, but if required by doctors, exercise with oxygen. Use a light and compact travel oxygen tank to allow patients to go out for activities. Most exercises can actually take oxygen. 2. When is it inappropriate to exercise? If the symptoms of lung disease attack, appear asthma, cough, phlegm and other symptoms, then rest for a day, go to the hospital to consult a doctor. In case of symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness and the like that cannot be relieved, you need to ask a doctor for help immediately. Responsible editor: Chuyang