Exercise is Essential for
Respiratory Health

Exercise isn’t just beneficial for the lungs, it’s essential.

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Key benefits of exercise for pulmonary function:
Exercise strengthens the respiratory muscles, improves lung capacity, and enhances oxygen delivery throughout the body. It reduces shortness of breath, increases endurance, and helps the body cope with the demands of daily life. For people living with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or after lung infections, exercise improves functional ability and overall quality of life.

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The evidence is clear:
Regular exercise can improve exercise tolerance by up to 20 to 30 percent in people with COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs that include aerobic and resistance training reduce breathlessness, increase walking distance, and decrease hospital admissions. Exercise also helps people with asthma better manage symptoms and improves long-term lung function in recovering patients.

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Why tailored exercise matters:
Pulmonary conditions vary greatly between individuals, and symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, or reduced oxygen saturation require careful management. Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) design and supervise programs that are safe, progressive, and evidence-based. This ensures each person trains at the right intensity, maximising benefits while reducing risk.

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In short
Exercise is medicine for the lungs. It improves strength, endurance, and quality of life, and is a critical part of managing pulmonary conditions safely and effectively.