date: 7/19/2006
Help for lung patients
Strength training, leg exercises, and aerobics may help you breathe more easily and stay active if you have lung problems. ConsumerReportsHealth.org can help you find treatments for lung disease that work well.
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Exercise can help people with lung disease stay active, but it's often intolerably difficult for them. Now research suggests that some of the difficulty stems from muscle weakness caused by inactivity-a problem at least partly correctable by strength training.
In several small recent studies strength training improved exercise tolerance and overall function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common lung disorder. The findings represent a new direction for COPD research, which has focused more on aerobic exercise.
Based partly on that research, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends strength training two to three days a week for COPD patients, under a doctor's supervision. In addition, experts at ACSM recommend 20 to 30 minutes of supervised aerobic exercise at least three times a week. Exercises that work mainly the legs are most helpful, since leg endurance is crucial for daily activities.
In several small recent studies strength training improved exercise tolerance and overall function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common lung disorder. The findings represent a new direction for COPD research, which has focused more on aerobic exercise.
Based partly on that research, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends strength training two to three days a week for COPD patients, under a doctor's supervision. In addition, experts at ACSM recommend 20 to 30 minutes of supervised aerobic exercise at least three times a week. Exercises that work mainly the legs are most helpful, since leg endurance is crucial for daily activities.
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