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Is Swimming Good Exercise for a Loved One with COPD?

Elderly Care in Belville OH: Is Swimming Good Exercise for a Loved One with COPD?

If your loved one has COPD, then you already know that exercise is important for her overall health. The problem can be finding the right exercise for your loved one. Swimming is one option that your loved one might be interested in trying out, as long as her doctor agrees that it’s okay for her to try.

Your Loved One Doesn’t Need Special Skills to Swim

One of the best things about swimming is that you don’t really need any special skills in order to get into the pool. Even if your loved one isn’t a strong swimmer, she can still use a floating board to support her as she paddles around the pool. As she develops stronger skills, she can progress to more advanced swimming techniques.

Swimming Is a Low-impact Sport

If your loved one has other health conditions, such as problems with her joints, swimming is ideal because it is a low-impact sport. That means that she’s not jostling or jolting her body, but she’s still getting a solid workout. Some people find that doing any type of exercise in water, such as water aerobics, makes that exercise far more enjoyable.

Swimming Gets Her Heart Beating

Cardio is excellent for both the heart and the lungs because the blood gets flowing and your loved one is able to strengthen her heart and her lungs. Even slow, mild swimming is good cardio exercise, which means that your loved one doesn’t have to push herself very hard in order to get some solid results.

Talk to Her Doctor to Be Sure

In the end, you should always stalk to your loved one’s doctor about any exercise program before beginning it. He can look at all of the different variables as well as her current health conditions and determine whether this type of exercise will benefit her. Be careful not to overdo any physical activities and keep in mind what your loved one’s COPD triggers are so that you can watch for them. For example, some COPD sufferers might react to pool chemicals.

If you’re not able to take your loved one to the pool, consider hiring elderly care providers to make sure that she gets there safely and that she’s swimming safely, too.

If you are considering hiring elderly care in Bellville, OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.  Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.

Stephen Sternbach

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