If you're cramping up and your muscles are sore after every session, you may be trying to do more than is appropriate for your level of fitness at those sessions. I would reduce the tension so that the exercise isn't as difficult. Go down to a low setting that is comfortable and do 10 minutes or whatever they have you doing for at least two or three days. When that's comfortable, increase the tension by one and keep working up. I think that will help. If your muscles are sore for just a day, that's pretty typical and I would keep doing what you're doing. If they're sore for more than that, reduce the tension.

What are you doing the other four days? That's part of the issue, I suspect; you're only exercising those three days. You need to be doing things every day; not the same things necessarily, but you need to be doing both aerobic and strengthening exercises every day. That's the way you get stronger.

I've been exercising nearly every day since early 2003. I do at least 45 minutes of aerobic stuff every day and work with weights at least three times a week. It took me about a month of every day workouts before I began to feel the difference in my breathing, but almost immediately, I had more energy, I was more focused and I really felt better. The key for me was pushing myself a little bit every week: increasing the speed on the treadmill little by little and starting with very light weights and moving up a little bit every other week or so.

I'm 73, my FEV1 is 35%, I still work part time and flat least twice a month. I haven't been really sick in over 5 years (find some wood quick!) and have been on 17 planes since the first of the year and haven't had anything so far. i credit my exercise program and my parents for giving me a really good immune system for being able to do this. Life is a lot of fun in spite of COPD.

Thank you. I am still waiting to get into pulm rehab. You say you have end stage? You stated you have oxygen nearby? I am on oxygen 24-7 and also have end stage. Did pulm rehab help with oxygen use?

KarynMaronde I am responding to you because I know how you feel. I would get up and go to my kitchen, stop 2 to 3 x on the way and felt like I was dying. I also am still working so I have to do things in small incriments and because of the American with Disability act my work accommodates this. I have end stage COPD with an capacity FEV1 is at 20%. I did start pulmonary rehab thinking my MD was crazy; but it turns out he wasn't. It was hard at first and there are days I still have a hard time but I make it 1 to 2 days a week for over a month; on the other days I started to go back to the gym, only doing light treadmill or bike for maybe 14 to 20 minutes, always have my inhaler on me and my oxygen nearby. I have good days and bad days but find if don't push it I actually feel worse than if I at least try. Breath easy and hope you get into pulmonary rehab soon........it does make a difference at least it did for me.

Sounds to me Jean that you were lucky and caught yours early. For me right now im on a waiting list for pulm rehab. I cant walk to my kitchen without stopping and its only 900 sf house. So by you saying aerobic exercise weights etc.. is a joke. No way I can do any of that.

I was told it does not heal you but it does make you stronger. Therefor you do not get sick as often, or as bad.