"...exercise is so incredibly important in the management of cystic fibrosis, both in people who feel generally healthy and people who may have more severe or advanced forms of the condition." Beam
Supporting each other...
It's easier to achieve things when we feel supported and motivated by others. We're trying to think of how we could develop our own peer-support exercise model where we support each other to meet our fitness goals. |
Strength based learning...
We're thinking about how we can draw on our own strengths and the strengths of others. What did other people find helpful for reaching their fitness goals? How did others overcome a challenge? |
Learning how exercise works...
When we have limited time and energy we need to know how to train smart and get the most from our training sessions. We hope to organise interactive group discussions with professional coaches and exercise scientists etc so we can learn more about:
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Leverage existing resources...
In the last few years, people like Pamela Scarborough (from Beam) and Taylor Lewis (from PPI) have developed some fantastic online fitness resources (below) for the international CF community. Let's use these well. CF is only part of who we are. Many people enjoy connecting with general fitness programs in their local communities. Let's make the most of local resources. |
Sports psychology
In professional sport, the interaction between psychology and performance is well recognised. A large part of maintaining fitness comes down to our mindset. So, let's learn about:
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Wearable technology...
Many professional athletes make use of wearable technology (like heart rate monitors and fitness trackers) to guide their training. Let's learn how these technologies work and how we could use them to help us meet our fitness goals. We're hoping to bring in experts so we can learn how to integrate these technologies and platforms. |
Beam
Beam was co-founded by Pamela Scarborough, yoga instructor and former CF physio (UK). Beam is a subscription service that provides both on-demand and live classes.
"Why is physical activity beneficial for people with CF? The “textbook” answer: To improve health of body and mind. Doctors tell us all the time that exercise is good for us. In CF that means improving strength and cardiovascular fitness, getting mucus moving from our lungs, building better posture and stronger bones, and so much more. Beam's answer: To feel good Life gets busy, and the simple truth is that it can be hard for us to be physically active. But we always feel good afterwards. If we focus on what makes us feel good, it motivates us to keep going. With activity we find ourselves more energetic, in a better mental state, and beaming with pride at even our smallest accomplishments. Plus, the endorphins you get from exercise can give you an immediate mood boost!" |
Pulmonary Performance Institute
The Pulmonary Performance Institute (PPI), founded and run by Taylor Lewis, is based in the US. Taylor is a strength and conditioning coach and cystic fibrosis exercise specialist.
PPI "focuses on providing exercise videos and exercise routines for clients with cystic fibrosis. This will give them the opportunity to design their own home training program as well as exercise program that can be implemented in the gym tomorrow. Video content will include, but is not limited to, warm ups, strength/cardiovascular exercise, positional breathing exercise, post training stretching and cool down guidelines." PPI has just released their first fitness program. It can be accessed via an app on your phone or via your computer. PPI YouTube Channel Check out PPI's YouTube channel. It is "designed to give the client, coach/practitioner the tools with which to design, build and execute short- and long-term workout programs. Our goal is to help empower clients with CF to fight for a cure through exercise." |
"Research shows that regular physical activity or exercise provides multiple benefits for people with cystic fibrosis. These benefits go beyond better lung function — keeping fit also helps you strengthen your bones, manage diabetes and heart disease and improve your mood." Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
10 Reasons To Exercise Regularly |
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Enhanced airway clearance |
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Improved cardiovascular fitness |
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Improved muscle strength |
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Improved core strength |
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Improved bone density (skeletal loading) |
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Improved posture |
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Improved mobility |
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Improved mental health |
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Improved breathing technique |
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Improved pelvic floor control |
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