Personalised physical activity for people with COPD

The difference

The current Dutch physical activity guidelines are very general and are not always precise. Yet we know that physical activity affects people with lung disease differently from healthy people. In the ActiveLIFE-LONG project, researchers are therefore examining the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health in people with lung disease.

Personalised physical activity advice

People with asthma and COPD wear an activity monitor for one week. Using the results of this research, Dr Thijs Eijsvogels of Radboud university medical center and Professor Martijn Spruit of Maastricht University and Ciro will make physical activity advice more specific and better tailored to each person’s lifestyle and health status. They will also expand the guidelines to include new measures of physical activity. In addition to traditional measures, such as the number of minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day, the researchers will examine light activities, short bursts of high-intensity activity such as climbing stairs or running for the bus, sleep quality and the number of steps taken each day. The project consists of four work packages:

1. Mapping the 24-hour physical activity and sedentary behaviour of people with COPD. The researchers will use this information to establish clear standards that can form the basis of personalised physical activity advice.
2. Investigating how physical activity, or a lack of it, affects quality of life. This will help researchers provide personalised advice that can make a real difference.
3. Studying how air quality affects physical activity and sedentary behaviour. This will help researchers better understand the activity patterns of people with COPD.
4. Determining the health benefits of a healthier lifestyle. The researchers will use this knowledge to develop personalised measures that can help prevent symptoms.

ActiveLIFE-LONG

This project helps people with lung disease become more active in a way that suits them. This can improve their health and quality of life. The project was developed following extensive discussions with people with lived experience, researchers and policymakers about the current physical activity guidelines. Their ideas and experiences will be used during the project and when applying its findings. Scientists, healthcare professionals and non-profit organisations, including the Knowledge Centre for Sport & Physical Activity and the Physical Activity Alliance, are working together on the project. ActiveLIFE-LONG is part of ActiveLIFE, a project funded by the Dutch Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport, the Hartstichting and the Hersenstichting.

Watch the video (in Dutch):