Exercise Area
Helping you to maintain your physical activity to support your overall well-being.
This Exercise Area is intended for people with PPF who have been prescribed OFEV® (nintedanib).
Please check with your medical team before you increase your existing level of exercise and activity. The information provided on this page is not a substitute for any advice given to you by your medical team.
This section was developed to help you stay as active as you can, as it’s important to exercise your lungs as much as possible. You may already exercise regularly, in which case it’s important to keep that up to maintain as much lung health as possible! Exercise is also a good way to release tension, focus your mind on something else and improve your mental health.
The Exercise Area also contains some information on pulmonary rehabilitation, a supervised programme that includes exercise training, health education and breathing techniques for people who have certain lung conditions, including PPF.
You should always ask your medical team if they have advice on the best type of exercise for you.
If you have any questions after reading this information, or any further concerns, always talk to your medical team – they’re here to help you.
The Exercise Area is divided into sections to support you in navigating to the information you need:
Exercise and physical activity: stay as fit as you can
Regular exercise is important if you have PPF, as it helps you maintain muscle strength and keeps the body working as efficiently as possible. Exercise can also improve your sleep, reduce depression and ease anxiety, so it’s good for your mental well-being too.
In fact, exercise is a key part of maintaining your physical and mental well-being and can help you manage your PPF and improve your quality of life.1 But, of course, exercising isn’t easy when you’re breathless, so start with small steps.
While PPF might sometimes limit the things you can do in your everyday life, you can continue to do the things that are important to you by setting goals to help you adjust.2 You can write down your goals and draw up exercise progress charts to help you plan your next steps and track your success. There are lots of ways to stay active such as walking, strength exercises and taking part in hobbies.3
Try walking around the home or garden on a regular basis, and then gradually increase the distance that you walk as you get stronger. Or do something quietly active that you enjoy. Maybe even a gentle dance to some music!
A short walk can also be a useful way to relax
Example thoughts and feelings from a person with PPF
“When I was first diagnosed, I could be quite anxious about doing exercise. I was referred to a breathlessness service ... I don’t get anxious about it in the same way I did before.”
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Pulmonary rehabilitation
Your hospital team or GP may refer you for pulmonary rehabilitation, which is an exercise and education programme designed to improve the quality of life for people with lung conditions.4 Although not all pulmonary rehabilitation courses are tailored for people with PPF, they will help you to learn how to manage breathlessness, keep your strength and fitness levels up, get advice about diet and exercise, and learn other things you can do to help yourself, so you can live as well, and as independently, as possible.
You will also meet other people with different types of lung conditions who live locally. Typical courses can last for around 6 weeks, with two visits to a local centre per week, each lasting around 2 hours. To get the most from this type of support, it’s best to attend the whole course.
If you have any questions after reading this information, talk to your medical team – they’re here to help you.
References
- Dowman LM, et al. Thorax 2017;72:610–619;
- Marshall C. A PF Patient’s Experience: Setting Goals for Better Health. Available at: https://pulmonaryfibrosisnews.com/2021/02/05/setting-goals-routines-better-health/. Last accessed: February 2023;
- British Lung Foundation. Keeping active with a lung condition. Available at: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/keep-active. Last accessed: February 2023;
- Raghu G, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011;183:788–824.
NP-GB-103031 | July 2024
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If you live in the UK and you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the yellow card scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. If you live in the Republic of Ireland and you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Health Products Regulatory Authority at www.hpra.ie or by email to medsafety@hpra.ie. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. |
THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM AND IS INTENDED FOR PEOPLE WITH PROGRESSIVE PULMONARY FIBROSIS WHO HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED OFEV® (NINTEDANIB).
This website is intended for people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis who have been prescribed treatment with OFEV® (nintedanib). OFEV® is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), or other chronic fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) that are showing signs of progression and these diseases are referred to on this website collectively as ‘progressive pulmonary fibrosis’ (PPF).
This website aims to provide you with information about your disease and how to manage your symptoms or the side effects of your treatment, as well as to give you details on holistic support available.
The information on this website has been developed to enhance, but not replace, the advice and help of your medical team. If you have any questions after reading this website, or any further concerns, always talk to your medical team – i.e., a nurse, doctor or pharmacist – they are here to help you.
You’ll also find more information about OFEV® in your Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), included with your OFEV® medication pack, or on https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.7705.pdf if you live in Great Britain, or on https://www.emcmedicines.com/en-gb/northernireland/medicine?id=1c9c7bb7-cac4-4c5f-a633-a8220c0a16dd&type=pil if you live in Northern Ireland or on https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/ofev-150-mg-soft-capsules-33198/patient-info if you live in the Republic of Ireland.