@patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease- Please accept this exercise prescription｜Exercise is good medicine

The landscape of chronic disease prevention and treatment in the United States presents a complex challenge. Recent statistics show that 48.4% of individuals aged 55 to 64 are living with chronic diseases, and this number increases to 62.3% for those aged 65 and older. A promising approach gaining traction is the philosophy of “exercise as medicine,” which combines physical therapy with medication to enhance disease management and significantly improve patients’ quality of life.

Before patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can begin training at home, they must first undergo a comprehensive medical history review, physical examination, and functional assessment in a hospital. Based on these evaluations, healthcare professionals collaboratively create a tailored management plan designed specifically for the patient.

It’s also essential for patients to assess any existing cardiovascular or musculoskeletal issues before starting their training. During the initial training sessions, monitoring vital signs—such as electrocardiograms, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation—is critical to determine if supplemental oxygen therapy is necessary. Additionally, incorporating proper warm-up and cool-down exercises is key to preventing overtraining.

This insights come from Rong Rong at the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital, with information reviewed by Lu Xiao, an expert from the National Health Science Popularization Expert Database, also affiliated with the center. The initiative was planned by Wang Ning and Yu Yunxi, and the content is sourced from the official Health China WeChat account.