Even those who suffer from asthma or another chronic respiratory disease can do sports. Indeed: physical activity is strongly recommended, because it can even change the prognosis. And also for this reason the campaign launched byLet’s Breathe Together Association – on the occasion of World Asthma Day – it is called “PerCORSA di salute”: among the many activities it includes a real (non-competitive) relay race in which everyone can participate. “We are talking about diseases that are still under-diagnosed and under-treated, in which we still see poor management by specialized centers and poor adherence to therapies – he explains to Salute Simona Barbaglia, president of the association -. The project was therefore created to respond to patients’ needs, first and foremost that of information to better manage their pathologies, keep symptoms under control and be more aware. Also about the importance of physical activity. These patients, in fact, often mistakenly limit their motor activity for fear of a possible respiratory crisis. Through a targeted rehabilitation process, however, it is possible to greatly improve the quality of life.”
The PerCorsa di salute campaign
The campagnapromoted in collaboration with theAPACS Association (Patients with Churg Strauss Syndrome, also known as Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis – Egpa) and in partnership with Cittadinanzattiva and LET’S UNITE (the Federation of Rare Diseases), includes 11 days of information, prevention, screening through spirometry testing, and sport. The initiative is dedicated to patients with chronic respiratory diseases, their family members and the general population, and will take place between May and October in six Regions, involving important reference centers for the treatment of these diseases. In particular: asthma and severe asthma, nasal polyposis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis and EGPA, an ultra-rare disease diagnosed with serious delays (3-7 years on average) and which includes the diseases mentioned among its comorbidities , with which it shares symptoms and part of the treatment process.
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Asthma and COPD: what physical activity?
“Asthma and physical activity have often been considered an irreconcilable combination, so adults and, above all, children with asthma have always been limited in physical activity – observes Gianna CamiciottoliAssociate Professor of the ‘Mario Serio’ Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences of the University of Florence and Coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the Association Respiriamo Insieme -. However, some sports, if practiced correctly, only bring beneficial effects on asthma from physiological point of view. Then there is a relational and social aspect because practicing physical activity significantly contributes to reducing or eliminating the isolation in which the respiratory patient often finds himself”.
“As for asthmatic people – he adds Jan Walter Volker Schroeder, Director of the Complex Structure of Allergology and Immunology at the ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda in Milan – in general they can do all the sports they want, if the disease is well controlled. Even scuba diving and trekking in the high mountains. Obviously it depends on the severity, but adherence to therapies is fundamental, which today allows us to talk about remission of the disease.”
Physical activity is also indicated for those suffering from COPD. “Unlike asthma, where thanks to drugs it is possible to have a complete recovery of breathing capacity, in the case of COPD you never fully recover the capacity you had before the disease – he explains Pierachille Santus, Director of Pneumology at the Sacco Hospital in the city of Milan -. The first piece of advice for these patients is obviously to correctly use the drugs that are prescribed to them and which allow them to dilate the lungs and breathe better, facilitating the possibility of moving. Which in turn improves breathing capacity, in a virtuous circle. The second piece of advice is to contact physiotherapists who are experts in respiratory rehabilitation. Which may include, for example, the use of a treadmill or exercise bike.”
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Physiotherapy, from prevention to rehabilitation
Yes, because doing physical activity is very difficult and tiring for those who experience breathlessness, shortness of breath or coughing attacks as soon as they try to climb the stairs. And the competent physiotherapist in respiratory diseases is essential both in the most serious phases and in the one preceding chronicity, as prevention, as he says Emilia Priviteraphysiotherapist responsible for the Rehabilitation Area at the IRCCS Ca Granda Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan and member of the Board of Directors ofAssociation of Respiratory Failure Rehabilitators (ARIR). In fact, it is not just a matter of assigning a series of exercises, but of making an accurate assessment of the patient, of his needs, his preferences, understanding the problems and overcoming them one at a time.
“In all respiratory diseases, physical activity can change the prognosis, the quality of life and the patient’s approach to the disease. This is demonstrated not only by our more than thirty years of experience, but by the scientific evidence. Our work is, therefore, also to find the right spring, the right program and the right aid so that the patient not only maintains adequate physical activity, but increases it over time”. At the Polyclinic, Privitera and colleagues take care of serious patients through an outpatient process, provided for by the healthcare system, which includes evaluation, the definition of a program, some sessions that have the aim of motivating and teaching the patient so that he is able to proceed independently, and follow up after some time. For those who do not have a serious illness and want to do physical activity as prevention, however, it may not be easy to find who to turn to. “We are trying to fill this gap – concludes the expert – On the ARIR website it is however possible to find a list of specialized professionals to turn to”.
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