The Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Optimizing Outcomes Among Patients With Cystic Fibrosis
Check out my Johns Hopkins newsletter article on using exercise to optimize outcome in patients with cystic fibrosis:
Despite advances in clinical care, life expectancy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) remains shortened. It has been well documented that exercise capacity in this population is limited by impaired lung function, peripheral skeletal muscle function, and nutritional status, as well as the inability of the cardiorespiratory system to meet the metabolic demands associated with exercise. Interestingly, the physiologic consequences observed in patients with CF are similar to the effects of deconditioning, including poor cardiovascular function, reduced muscle mass, and impaired strength and power. Further, children with CF may be more physically inactive because of the burden of their chronic disease and thus may be at risk for compounding the combined effects of chronic disease and physical inactivity. Exercise and physical activity are key factors in the management of patients with CF, as such markers of physical fitness as aerobic capacity are related to pulmonary function and may be associated with mortality.
In this issue, we review the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in patients with CF, and discuss new research on how clinicians can incorporate physical activity into the treatment plan for their patients with CF, with the expectation that exercise can improve outcomes in this population.
Greg D. Wells, Ph.D.
Reader Comments (1)
you know this is unfortunate that we have to proclaim importance of exercise. Even simple hands-lengs stretching (consistently for many years) exercises helps remarkably to our health.