Patient and Family Education
Cystic Fibrosis
Exercise Program
CF and exercise
Research has proven that exercise in children with cystic fibrosis is not only
allowable, but it is highly encouraged and can greatly improve their quality of life.
The Cystic Fibrosis Exercise Program at Seattle Children’s is designed by a
certified athletic trainer. The goal of this program is to encourage activity in
children with cystic fibrosis. It is set up to help you create and/or modify an
activity plan for your child and find more ways to stay active. The hope is that
activity and physical fitness will remain a part of your child’s daily life for
years to come.
The program is free and voluntary.
Fitness assessment and goal setting
Fitness assessment
The first part of the exercise program visit is the fitness assessment. The
assessment portion is done with a variety of tools and tests to determine your
child’s current levels of:
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Endurance
Strength
Stability
Agility
Coordination
Balance
Postural alignment
These assessments happen every 6 months
to track progress.
Goal setting
The next part of the visit is setting short- and long-term goals. Short-term
goals are measured in “check-ins” at quarterly CF clinic appointments, and
long-term goals are measured at reassessments after 6 months. These goals
are created with your child, based on their individual likes, in order to
promote success. The program continues until your child reaches adult age or
chooses to stop.
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Cystic Fibrosis Exercise Program
To Learn More
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Cystic Fibrosis Center
Scheduling:
206-987-2024, option 1
Phone: 206-987-2024
Fax:
206-987-2639
Email:
[email protected]
4800 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
For more information on
athletic training, visit
www.nata.org
Free Interpreter
Services
• In the hospital, ask your
child’s nurse.
• From outside the
hospital, call the
toll-free Family
Interpreting Line
1-866-583-1527. Tell the
interpreter the name or
extension you need.
On the day of your CF Exercise Program appointment
• You will be scheduled for an exercise program visit about one hour before
your CF clinic appointment.
• Check in as usual. You and your child will complete two questionnaires,
have height and weight measured, and do PFTs.
• Then, you will meet with the athletic trainer for assessment and goal setting.
Afterwards, you will have your regular CF clinic appointment.
• Have your child dress to move around — They should wear comfortable
tennis shoes, shorts or sweats, and a tank top or t-shirt so they are not
afraid to sweat and do their best!
• Please cancel your exercise appointment if your child is at all sick — we can
always reschedule.
The proof is in the research
Research shows regular exercise in children with CF is safe and has these
proven benefits:
• Increases exercise tolerance and cardio-respiratory fitness (running
programs)
• Slows rate of pulmonary function decline
• Helps mobilize mucous secretions
• Enhances or preserves breathing capacity
• Is a useful measure of the impact the disease is having on the patient
What is a certified athletic trainer?
Certified athletic trainers are medical professionals — not to be confused with
a “personal trainer” who you may see at the gym. They have core expertise in
bone and muscle systems and experience in creating specialized exercise
programs that are unique to the medical and physical needs of each individual
to help them reach their goals of physical activity. Athletic training
encompasses the prevention, evaluation, and intervention of emergency, acute,
and chronic medical conditions. Athletic trainers are educated in injury/illness
prevention, first aid, emergency care, and assessment of injury/illness, as well as
rehabilitation and return-to-activity programs.
These professionals are licensed by the state of Washington and certified by
an independent national board. More than 70 percent of certified athletic
trainers hold at least a master’s degree.
Seattle Children’s offers interpreter services for Deaf, hard of hearing or non-English speaking patients, family members and
legal representatives free of charge. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request.
Call the Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201.
This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your child’s needs are unique. Before you act
or rely upon this information, please talk with your child’s healthcare provider.
© 2017 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington. All rights reserved.
Cystic Fibrosis Center
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