Prioritize Movement as Therapy
By Jhoanna Rae Marquez, PT, DAC, INHCPhysical activity isn’t just another item on the wellness checklist. For people with CF, exercise directly supports lung health by increasing ventilation and helping to loosen mucus. Regular aerobic activity, resistance training, and stretching can improve both lung function and quality of life.
The challenge is making it happen consistently. You don’t need a gym membership or specialized equipment to start. Short bursts of activity count. A 10 minute dance session in the living room, a quick bike ride around the block, or even active play in the backyard all provide benefits.
What matters most is finding activities that your family actually enjoys. If your child loves basketball, that becomes their exercise. If you prefer swimming, that works too. Adherence to exercise happens when it feels less like medicine and more like life.
BreatheStrong CF offers exercise grants up to $650 to help fund these activities. These grants can cover equipment like bikes or trampolines, gym memberships, sports league fees, or lessons in activities ranging from dance to martial arts. The program recognizes that financial barriers often prevent families from accessing the physical activities that would benefit their health. You can apply once per calendar year at https://breathestrongcf.org/exercise-grants/.
Think practically about what would work for your household. If your child resists structured exercise, what do they already do for fun? Could that become more regular? If winters limit outdoor activity, what indoor options exist? Small, consistent movement beats ambitious plans that fall apart after two weeks.
