Key points
- Evidence shows that patients who stick to their exercise programme have better outcomes.
- You should continue to follow the exercise programme you started in hospital for the first 3 months after you go home. Then, if you want to start trying out other exercises, talk to the transplant team first.
- Day to day physical activity (for example, walking to the shop) does not replace your prescribed daily exercise programme.
- Exercising with friends or family, tracking your progress, and changing up your activities, are all good ways to keep yourself motivated.
- There are a number of ways to stay safe while exercising.
Why is exercise so important?
After transplant, you are at risk of developing a number of health problems. Exercise is a key way of helping to prevent these.
It can be hard to maintain your exercise routine after you’ve gone home. Before transplant, you may have found excuses not to exercise like bad weather or not wearing the right clothes. But exercise is now an essential part of your life.
“Evidence shows that patients who stick to their exercise programme have better outcomes.”
- Dr. Nicola Ronan, Lung Transplant Consultant
Daily exercise
Your exercise programme
Your physiotherapist will give you a progressive exercise programme to follow. It will include aerobic and strengthening exercises.
It’s important to continue the programme you started in hospital with your physiotherapist for the first few months. This typically includes walking, stationary cycling, and strengthening exercises. After this period, talk to the transplant team if there are other exercises you would like to add in. Day to day physical activity (for example, walking to the shop) does not replace your prescribed daily exercise programme.
Staying motivated
It can take more than 6 weeks to get in the habit of regular exercise. Stick with it, and try not to be discouraged. Here are some tips to help make exercise part of your daily life:
- Follow your exercise programme but change up the activities to keep yourself interested and motivated. Try changing up your programme every month or so.
- Set specific times in your schedule for exercise.
- Get your friends and family involved. Invite them to join you for walks, or ask for them to keep you accountable.
- Log your activities. Your physiotherapists will ask for an update at each appointment.
- Choose exercises that you enjoy.
- Notice your progress and celebrate your achievements.
Exercising at home after transplant
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Staying safe while exercising
It can take time for your muscles and bones to heal after the surgery. For the first few months after your operation do not push, pull, lift or carry heavy objects (anything more than 2kg). For example, do not carry shopping, lift children, or move furniture.
- Stick to the home exercise programme and instructions.
- Do not do upper body strength training until at least 3 months after transplant and when the surgeon says it is safe.
- Find a balance between pacing yourself and challenging yourself.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing and supportive non-slip shoes, like trainers.
- Make sure you're hydrated.
- Wait for at least an hour after eating before you exercise.
- If you experience any issues while exercising, write your symptoms in your diary and contact the transplant team for advice.
Stop your exercise if you feel:
- Chest pain or tightness that is new for you
- Dizzy, nauseous, clammy or cold
- Increasingly wheezy or excessively breathless
- Weakness in an arm or leg that is more than just a tired muscle
- Any pain beyond your normal aches
Contact your GP or the transplant team for advice. In an emergency, go straight to the nearest Emergency Department.
Muscle soreness
If you don’t give yourself enough time to recover after your strengthening exercises, you may experience delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). While this may be uncomfortable, this is a normal response.
If you do experience muscle pain after exercising don’t stop moving, just continue with lighter activities. To relieve the pain you can:
- Take a warm bath or cold shower
- Apply a heating pad
- Take paracetamol (Remember: You cannot take NSAIDS like Ibuprofen or Difene)
If you need more support, talk to the transplant team. They can recommend other community resources like pulmonary rehabilitation, ILFA, and Exwell that can help you to keep fit.