Tips on Exercising with an Oxygen Concentrator
Only 20.6 Americans met the total recommended amounts of exercise according to this survey. This
shows that a whopping 80% do not get the recommended amount of exercise.
Just over 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD according to this report and this gives us
a rough ballpark figure of those that are using oxygen concentrators.
Exercise is a great way to sustain and improve health and fitness; it helps to build strength and energy
while maintaining your weight. There are also a number of other advantages when it comes to
exercising;
- Helps increase your lifespan.
- Helps your brain and health memory.
- It is great for your bones and muscles.
- It makes you feel happier and raises your spirits.
An oxygen concentrator helps deliver oxygen to patients that need it, and are used as a safer and
convenient alternative to compressed oxygen tanks. Patients that require oxygen concentrators are
those that have a condition that results in low levels of oxygen in their blood. Such conditions include
COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
and other respiratory conditions.
Oxygen is vital and essential for all major body functions and without it one is unable to breathe
properly, the body is unable to absorb crucial nutrients and the heart and brain suffers. The most
oxygen dependent tissue in the body is the brain; just a few seconds without oxygen will cause you to
faint. Oxygen also helps to ferry essential components through the bloodstream.
Patients that suffer from low levels of oxygen in their blood are treated through oxygen therapy ,where
oxygen is used as medical treatment. Many patients undergoing oxygen therapy have a misconception
that their oxygen concentrator equipment holds them back when it comes to exercise. Consulting your
doctor about your exercise regimen before you start one may be very important however it does not
mean that you are unable to exercise. Your doctor helps you to determine what may be too intensive
and can also advise you about which exercises can help you depending on your condition.
Naturally, when we are exercising there is a tendency to take in shorter breaths, limiting the amount of
oxygen that we are taking in. Oxygen concentrators are used to make the flow of oxygen more
consistent. Many athletes are known to use oxygen concentrators to aid in increasing their
performance. The consistent flow of oxygen helps reduce the unwanted side effects after an intense
workout, fatigue and sore muscles. Firefighters are also known to regularly detox levels of carbon
monoxide using oxygen concentrators after fighting a fire.
Oxygen concentrators have evolved over time and apart from the stationary oxygen concentrator, we
have the portable oxygen concentrator which gives the patient freedom and independence to travel,
exercise and do other activities around the house that they enjoy doing. If given a go-ahead by your
physician to engage in physical exercise, here are some tips on exercising with your oxygen
concentrator;
- For optimum results, the number of liters per minute should be at least 8 liters of purified
oxygen. Higher flow rates of up to 15 or 20 liters can be used. Lower flow rates of say 3, 4 or 5
should be avoided - Have your oxygen concentrator inspected to ensure that it is in great condition and so that the
flow of oxygen is uninterrupted during your exercise. - The purity of the oxygen that is being provided to you must be at 90 – 95%.
- The type of concentrator you use will influence the type of exercise that you do, take for
example you have the traditional oxygen tanks that are best used with stationary equipment,
these are better with treadmills and elliptical machines. We also have the portable oxygen
concentrators that can be used for walking and cycling. - Wearing a specialized EWOT mask can ensure that you don’t lose any of the oxygen being
produced as opposed to wearing a nasal cannula that is not as efficient when exercising.
There are a number of exercises that one can do with their oxygen concentrator, just remember to
share your exercise regimen with your doctor before you begin any regimen. This is to make sure that
you are healthy enough to exercise. Here are a few you can borrow;
Walking exercises – this is a simple, low impact, trouble-free exercise that you can do with your
portable concentrator. You can start with short walks then advance over time. A study done in
Spain showed that you can reduce the risk of hospitalization for COPD exacerbation by walking
just 1.86 miles per day. A Taiwan study showed that you can add 3 years to your life by walking
just 15 minutes every day.
Chair exercises – there are some patients with lung disease that have limited ability to exercise
but have to incorporate some sort of movement exercise in their treatment plan. This would be
ideal for them as it helps improve flexibility, balance and improve strength. Here are some chair
exercises for the elderly that you can do.
Tai – Chi – this is an ancient Chinese practice that combines deep breathing and relaxation with
gentle flowing movements. It’s a mild workout that helps tone your muscles and also helps your
heart and lungs. If your COPD makes you feel concerned and edgy, it will be of great benefit to
you as it helps you to relax and take of the edge.
Riding a stationary bike – Doing this exercise is a great choice for someone with knee, joint or
back problems. With this type of bike, your arms are stationary while your legs peddle. You
have the choice of peddling with resistance to make your workout a bit more challenging or you
can peddle with no resistance at all to reduce the intensity.
It is important to have your oxygen concentrator checked to ensure that it is in tip-top shape before you
start any exercise. You can look up technicians to help diagnose and repair your concentrator problems
such as leaks and testing oxygen purity to ensure optimal performance.
