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Information for children, teenagers and families | |
Exercise
The role of exercise in promoting and maintaining health in CF is well established. Exercise is a fun way to engage with your child by incorporating keeping well and getting fit into a lively and active family lifestyle. It’s never too soon to start! From new born to young adult your CF Specialist Physiotherapist will guide you and advise on ways to structure a daily exercise routine and progress this according to your child’s development and interests. What are the benefits of Exercise in Cystic Fibrosis?Exercise
At every CF Clinic the specialist Physiotherapist will discuss your child’s weekly exercise routine and help with new ideas to keep it enjoyable and fun. Any regular activity your child enjoys and which helps them to get out of breath and a bit hot and sweaty is a great way to get started. An article from Great Ormond Street Hospital explaining the benefits of exercise in CF and how include exercise in your daily routine can be found here. Exercise IdeasBabies and Infants
Bouncing on your lap or on a gym ball Rolling and stretching exercises on a play mat (time this before your daily chest physiotherapy) Baby massage classes Aquagym 2 years and upwards
Bouncing on a trampoline Tumble tots Dancing and singing Lots of outside play- running and jumping ideally every day for at least an hour Junior team games eg ‘little kickers’ Junior martial arts Lots of family activities-the more energetic the better! 8 years and upwards 
Team sports Cross country running Cycling Climbing Skipping Swimming, athletics, gymnastics, dance (ballet/jazz) Teenagers
Running-join a local running club All team sports Introduce upper body weight training Fitness suite at local gym/school (ask your Physio to set up a personal program for your child) Swimming, dance, Zumba, martial arts, Pilates, Yoga Exercise in HospitalDuring an in patient stay in hospital the CF Physiotherapy team will aim to offer a daily exercise session (Mon-Fri) in addition to your child’s morning and afternoon airway clearance sessions. Exercise may be in the gym, in the play area or in the summer in the park with the Therapy Assistant or CF Physiotherapist. This is an important way of optimizing treatment whilst in hospital. Segregation of CF patients is adhered to at all times to avoid any risk of cross infection in communal areas during exercise. Spin bikes, weights, exercise bands and gym balls may be used in older children’s rooms to support and encourage individual training programs prior to discharge. Exercise at Annual ReviewFrom age 7 your child will perform a standardized exercise test (shuttle or ‘bleep test’) to assess their fitness every year. This provides an excellent opportunity to discuss ways of progressing their exercise/training routines over the forthcoming year as well as providing a benchmark of their fitness level annually. This test will be continued following transition to adult services. Please make sure that your child wears comfortable clothes and suitable footwear to CHOX for their review. Exercise AdviceThe CF Physiotherapy Team are keen to promote the importance of exercise at nursery, at school and in local exercise facilities as well as at home with the family. Please email or call to ask for advice or discuss a visit to provide support for your child if you feel this would be helpful. The contacts page will let you know who is in you local CF physio team. The CF physio team in Oxford are happy to be contacted by any of the network families and patients: Useful links for more exercise informationStandards of Care and Good Clinical Practice for the Physiotherapy Management of Cystic Fibrosis. Second edition. June 2011. Click here UK physical activity guidelines. Click here |