People of all ages and health situations should exercise regularly to live full, healthy lives. Regular exercise is especially important for people with chronic illnesses such as cystic fibrosis (CF) because exercise can improve their physical and mental health. If your children with cystic fibrosis struggle to exercise regularly, we can help. Please keep reading to learn about three easy exercises they can do with or without your help to maintain and improve their health.
Riding a Bike
Children all over the world love to ride bikes. Luckily, this fun form of transportation isn’t just for getting around. Riding a bike is an excellent form of aerobic exercise that can help improve your child’s breathing and cardiovascular and muscular development. Cycling can also strengthen bones and build stamina. You can start young children on tricycles in a flat area, and as they grow in stature and confidence, they can work up to bicycles on uneven terrain. If your child uses oxygen therapy, they can wear a portable oxygen concentrator on their back while biking close to home or, if necessary, on a stationary bike inside.
Lifting Weights
Strength training is essential for everyone to build muscle, strengthen bones, and maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Children with CF should also reap these benefits and can do so with various strength training exercises, including weightlifting. Lifting weights can also help improve chest mobility, which is a great way to improve breathing. You can start your children with light weights and work them up to larger ones as they gain muscle mass. If your child uses oxygen therapy, they can do many weightlifting exercises sitting down. Sitting during exercise can help them keep their cannula and tubing stable.
Martial Arts
Practicing martial arts such as tae kwon do and karate can provide many physical and mental benefits, including for children with CF. These exercises are both aerobic, requiring constant physical activity that increases heart rate, and anaerobic, requiring quick bursts of physical activity. They are full-body exercises that improve muscles, strengthen bones, and increase flexibility. Children participating in martial arts build self-esteem, self-confidence, respect, and conflict-resolution skills. Many people with CF struggle with confidence, so this exercise is a great way to help your children feel better about themselves and make living with cystic fibrosis easier despite their disease.
These three easy exercises may take some time to learn, such as specific martial art practices, but once children with cystic fibrosis learn them, they can easily exercise daily. If you’re unsure which exercises are best for your child’s health and routine, consult with their medical team and create a plan to keep them healthy and happy.
