Exercise for Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a condition where a person develops an abnormal amount of excessively thick and sticky mucus within the lungs, airways and the digestive system. This is due to a problem in the exocrine system, which is responsible for producing saliva, sweat, tears and mucus.

A person with Cystic Fibrosis is born with the condition and there is currently no cure. People with Cystic Fibrosis require continuous medical care throughout their lifetime, including medications, chest physiotherapy and exercise prescription.

I have Cystic Fibrosis, what type of exercise should I be doing?

For people with Cystic Fibrosis, exercise programs should include both aerobic (cardiovascular) and resistance (weights) based exercise. The frequency of exercise is more important than duration or intensity, with the goal being to do something every day. Any exercise program should be prescribed by an accredited exercise physiologist, who will be able to provide a specific routine that meets the needs of the patient. In general, the program should consist of:
• Aerobic exercise – Start low and build up gradually until you are consistently doing 30-40 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per day. Moderate aerobic activity is any exercise that leads to a modest increase in your breathing and heart rate. It includes activities such as brisk walking, swimming, cycling and dancing. If this is well tolerated and your fitness has improved to an adequate level, you can introduce some bouts of vigorous intensity exercise such as running, exercise classes and sport.
• Resistance exercise – Include resistance exercise as part of your program to ensure you get the benefits of increased muscle strength, improved bone mineral density and improved support for your joints. Resistance exercise includes weights, resistance bands or bodyweight exercises, and should be included twice per week for 20-30 minutes.