Exercise Safety

Respiratory therapist Nickole Hackney offers some tips on how to exercise safely.

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Exercise is a crucial part of good mental and physical health, and exercise safety is important to protecting yourself against injury.

Before you begin

Talk to your healthcare provider about exercise and what amount is safe for you to do. If you’ve been to urgent care, the emergency room, or had a hospitalization since the last time you exercised, talk to your healthcare provider before starting up again.
If you wear oxygen normally, ask your healthcare provider if you should wear it during exercise too.
Wear comfortable clothes and well-fitting, non-slip shoes.
Don’t exercise on an empty stomach! This is especially important for people who have diabetes.
If you have balance concerns, consider doing chair exercises instead. Choose a steady chair without wheels and with a cushion that does not move.

Remember to start every workout with warm-up exercises, like shoulder rolls or marching on the spot. Warming up helps get your body ready for exercise.
Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding using oxygen during exercise.
Stay hydrated!
Monitor your heart rate and oxygen level. It’s typically recommended to keep your oxygen level at 90% or higher during exercise, but your healthcare provider will tell you what your target level and heart rate should be.
Consider having a family member or friend with you, in case you need help.
Remember to end every workout with cool-down exercises and stretching to help your muscles relax and prevent injury.

If you feel sick, have had a fever, or have been on antibiotics in the previous 48 hours, pause your exercise until you are fever-free for more than 48 hours.
If you feel dizzy or lightheaded prior to exercise and your blood pressure is not in a normal range, contact your healthcare provider.
If at any point you feel unsafe, stop and relax. Only begin again when you feel safe. And talk to your healthcare provider if you feel concerned about continuing.
Exercise shouldn’t feel overwhelming and painful. So if you feel extreme shortness of breath, chest pain or pain that is unusual, and a change in heart rate or light-headedness, stop exercising immediately and call your healthcare provider.