Below you will find interesting articles on the topic of respiratory therapy and pulmonary exercise.
Breathing is life, because it is only through breathing that the vital oxygen enters our body via our blood.
To ensure our breath flows smoothly and optimally supplies the body, there are various ways to provide support:
Exercise is good for you – following this principle, Alpha1 Deutschland eV, together with its member Peter Kukry A series of exercises has been developed for people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Peter is a sports teacher, pulmonary exercise trainer, and respiratory therapist who, among other things, has established local pulmonary exercise groups in cooperation with the Westphalia Clinic. In 66 short sessions, you will be introduced to practical pulmonary exercises – have fun!
Are you interested in our pulmonary exercise groups? Please contact Peter Kukry at peddar2012@gmail.com.
Further information on this topic training Our scientific advisory board member Michaela Frisch has summarized the information for patients with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
The German Association for Lung Sports (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Lungensport in Deutschland e. V.) offers interactive lung sports videos on its YouTube channel, inviting viewers to participate:
Lung disease rehabilitation for adults is a program designed to reduce the physical and emotional impact that a long-term lung condition can have on a person's life. It combines physical exercise with education about ways to maintain your health. This may include treatment from occupational therapists, dietitians and nutritionists, medical professionals, social workers, and psychologists, if available. Lung disease rehabilitation programs for adults are tailored to each individual. Before you begin a program, experts will assess your needs and circumstances and work with you to develop a personalized plan.
Rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults can help people with long-term lung diseases to improve symptoms such as shortness of breath and rapid fatigue during everyday activities, which can have a serious impact on their lives.
If you suffer from any of the following conditions, you may be able to benefit from adult lung disease rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults can be offered in addition to other treatments such as medication, oxygen, and non-invasive ventilation.
Your doctor must prescribe rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults.
It is important to note that not everyone has access to rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults. Doctors are working to make lung disease rehabilitation programs available to a larger number of patients.
If you believe you could benefit from adult lung disease rehabilitation, it might be worth asking your doctor if it is available to you, or if there are plans to introduce this program in your area.
In short, rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults should help you do more of the things you enjoy in order to feel better.
„"Rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults has helped me a great deal. For example, it has helped me increase my physical stamina, which has reduced my symptoms. It also helps to decrease the number of respiratory infections and has therefore improved my health-related quality of life. The program takes place in a friendly, relaxed environment with appropriate background music and offers the opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with other patients with similar conditions."“
Matt Cullen, who was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ILF) in 2010;
He is currently enrolled in a rehabilitation program for lung diseases in adults.
Studies have shown that rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults can have the following effects on patients with lung diseases:
Experts believe that rehabilitation courses for lung diseases in adults should last at least 8 weeks and include at least two or three course sessions per week in order to achieve a significant effect.
It is assumed that longer-term programs offer even greater benefits. Rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults can take place in groups at hospitals, general practitioners' offices, health centers, or community facilities such as community halls or recreation centers. In some cases, a personalized program in your home is offered.
Following an initial assessment, the doctor overseeing your program will work with you to develop a plan that is safe and appropriate for your fitness level. You may also receive supplemental oxygen to assist you in completing the program.
Endurance training
This is usually prescribed 3–5 times per week and is continuous exercise lasting 20–60 minutes. This could be, for example, walking or cycling.
Interval training
This is a form of endurance training that incorporates rest periods. The workout consists of high-intensity activity interspersed with regular breaks for lower-intensity exercise or rest. For example, this could involve 30 seconds of cycling at a higher intensity, followed by a 30-second break or slower cycling. This is then repeated several times.
Strength training
This involves lifting weights to improve muscle strength in your upper and lower limbs. The training specifically targets the muscles in your body that you need for your daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, shopping, and household chores, making these activities easier.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
If you are experiencing significant problems due to shortness of breath or heart disease, neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be able to help you. This method uses electrical impulses to strengthen the muscles in your legs, thereby improving your physical endurance and performance.
Inspiratory muscle training
This involves exercises that improve your respiratory muscles and your physical performance.
Training exercises performed at home
If you live in a rural area and have difficulty traveling, a healthcare professional may be able to come to your home and develop a lung disease rehabilitation program for adults. Regular phone calls will allow you to discuss your personal goals and progress with a healthcare professional. The program organizers may also be able to provide you with exercise equipment for home use.
Plan your journeys/make arrangements at work/within your family, etc. You may have the opportunity to meet staff at the facility or people who have already taken the course and can ask questions. Try to remain open-minded.
„During the eight-week program, we really had to work hard and do a lot of exercises on the fitness equipment. We all noticed after each day that the exercises were getting easier for us and that our well-being was improving. Since everyone's health was different, we found that we progressed at different rates; but we all supported each other and everyone was happy to have the opportunity to take part in this program. We had a lot of time to talk to each other, and we became a real little family over the eight weeks.“
Jos Donkers, Netherlands, who was diagnosed with severe asthma in 1980.
He completed his first rehabilitation program for lung diseases in adults in 2003.
The benefits of 8–12 weeks of rehabilitation for lung diseases in adults usually last for up to one year.
After completing the course, you should try to maintain your health and do exercises to preserve your progress. Choose activities you enjoy, as you'll be more likely to continue them.
Try to incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine, such as walks and gardening, so you're naturally doing things that are good for your health. You might even want to join an exercise group or class in your neighborhood to maintain the social aspects of the program.
Exercise is good and healthy – no matter your age.
Regular physical activity is healthy. This applies to people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency just as much as to healthy individuals. Researchers have shown that physically active COPD patients experience fewer infections and have fewer Shortness of breath This results in fewer hospital visits, more stable lung function, and a reduction in inflammatory processes in the body. Increased strength and endurance, or less age-related decline, allow individuals to remain independent for longer. A positive impact on survival has also been demonstrated.
Besides the frequency and severity of infections and the extent of inflammation in the body, the level of physical activity is considered a factor influencing the progression of the disease. Many patients with COPD are increasingly getting too little exercise. Researchers define moderate physical activity as 2-4 hours per week of light physical activity. Based on the number of steps taken per day, fewer than 5,000-6,000 steps per day are still considered a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, aim for 6,000-10,000 steps per day. This is considered an active lifestyle: only then is the amount of exercise sufficient to adequately counteract the decline caused by aging and the disease itself.
For the lungs to absorb enough oxygen into the body, you need to breathe deeply enough. About three-quarters of this breathing work is normally done by the diaphragm. In emphysema, the problem is that the lungs are overinflated.
It can easily contain 1-2 liters of trapped air. During physical exertion, the situation worsens: breathing becomes increasingly shorter and incomplete; the chest cavity becomes increasingly inflated. In addition to the emphysema at rest, another 1-1.5 liters of air accumulate in the chest cavity – doctors call this dynamic hyperinflation. This pushes the diaphragm further and further downwards, impairing its function. Instead, the respiratory muscles, which are less effective and require a lot of energy, have to be used more extensively.
Furthermore, the narrowed bronchi themselves ("obstruction") and the increased pressure in the chest cavity caused by hyperinflation restrict the patency of the bronchi (triggering "shortness of breath"). Compared to healthy individuals, the work of breathing is significantly increased, and a COPD patient expends up to 10-12 times more energy with each breath during exertion.
Therefore, under exertion, pursed-lip breathing or the use of a "stenosis" (e.g., a straw) is essential: you form only a small opening with your lips, which creates a backup of air during exhalation, keeping the bronchi more stable and thus open: you can exhale better and more completely (see Fig. 2).
To meet the increased oxygen demand during exertion, the body increases its respiration. While 5–6 l/min is sufficient at rest, a breathing rate of 12–15 l/min is required for slow walking, and walking uphill at an incline requires 40 l/min or more. However, many people with COPD can only manage about 20 l/min. The muscles have sufficient initial support to begin exertion for up to two minutes. After that, however, they depend on an adequate supply of oxygen via the circulatory system. If this supply is insufficient, shortness of breath and, in some cases, the inability to continue exertion will result. Furthermore, the insufficient oxygen supply to the muscles is the cause of structural changes and a feeling of weakness. See Table 1 for a summary.
Beyond a certain level of severity, it's advisable to establish a consistent rhythm: First, relax, then perform one exercise within the first 1 to 3 minutes of training, rest for approximately 3-5 breaths, repeat the exercise, again for 3-5 breaths, rest, and so on. This allows you to monitor your physical exertion (including breathing and blood pressure). Following this rhythm, complete approximately 8-12 repetitions, followed by a 2-3 minute break. Perform a total of 2-3 sets. At home, you can train your legs and core with squats (Fig. 3).
Many everyday tasks exceed our current capacity: if we complete them at "old pace" or "at our limit," we often pay the price later (severe shortness of breath). A classic example is climbing stairs. Here, too, a rhythm is recommended, taking breaks as we go (see Figs. 4.1 & 4.2).
Another example is walking uphill. One practical solution is to walk in switchbacks. Pay attention to your breathing rate. You should take no more than four breaths (inhalation and exhalation) within 10 seconds. If you take more, walk more slowly and at a shallower pace until you only need to breathe four times in 10 seconds.
