Exercise is an essential component for treatment of COPD. You may find it strange that your doctor has recommended exercise as part of your COPD treatment. You might wonder how doing activities that will make you breathe harder could help you breathe easier. The truth is exercise will help ward off muscle deterioration, breathlessness, and depression. It is important that you work with your doctor or therapist to determine the best exercise program for you.

Exercises to help your COPD are simple to do and don’t need to take a lot of time. There are two parts to COPD exercises, aerobic and strength.

Aerobic exercise increases the oxygen flow to your muscles. Aerobic exercise should increase your heart rate and includes daily activities such as walking to work, walking your dog, swimming, climbing stairs, dancing or even running an errand.

Strength exercises or resistance training makes your muscles stronger. Strength exercise includes knee and arm extensions, leg lifts, step-ups, and lifting groceries. Start simple with stretching and breathing exercises, plus a daily walk.
 
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise around. It's simple, cheap, and can be done anywhere, any time of year. Try walking around your home, at the nearby mall, or a local park. Whatever you do try to do a small amount of exercise every day and then maybe a bit more exercise (15-30 mins) at least three times per week.
 
Always talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.  He or she may advise you to use your bronchodilators before exercising, or recommend using supplemental oxygen during your workouts.  Once you begin it is important that you start slowly and pace yourself, don’t rush, take your time, and work your way up to your fitness goal. Make sure that your fitness goal simple, start with being able to walk for 10 minutes without becoming breathless and then work you way to being able to walk for 30 mins with only one stop.