Cystic Fibrosis Trust launches exercise practitioner fellowship
The exercise practitioner is an emerging role in CF multidisciplinary care teams. Working in partnership with other team members such as doctors, physiotherapists, and dietitians, exercise practitioners provide support with physical activity and create tailored exercise programmes for individuals people with CF.
Despite the recognised benefits exercise can bring to people with cystic fibrosis, there is currently a lack of CF-specific training and support for exercise practitioners is currently lacking, and many centres do not have this role at all.
Lucia says: “The importance of exercise for any individual in maintaining a healthy lifestyle is well-known. In cystic fibrosis the benefits of regular physical activity are multiple. Exercise helps individuals with CF not only with aerobic capacity and lung health but also by improving stamina, healthier bones and muscle strength, weight management and enhanced quality sleep. All of these benefits greatly improve quality of life.”
As part of the fellowship, an online training programme will be designed for people working in within the field of CF and exercise within CF multidisciplinary care teams. This will strengthen their skills and understanding of CF, physical activity promotion and exercise prescribing.
Alongside the development of the training programme, the fellowship aims to make the exercise practitioner role recognised across all CF multidisciplinary care teams, raising awareness of the value of this role in supporting people with cystic fibrosis to maintain and improve their health through exercise.
Lucia adds: “With this fellowship I aim to participate in the creation of a recognised exercise practitioner role which ultimately optimises care for people with cystic fibrosis. I am very grateful to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for giving me this opportunity and very excited for the year ahead of me.”
“We are delighted to offer for the first time an exercise practitioner fellowship, which will lead to greater recognition of the benefits of exercise practitioners in CF teams, and improve the quality of exercise support provision for people with cystic fibrosis.”
Jacqueline Ali, Head of Information, Support and Programmes at the Trust
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. It affects more than 10,800 people in the UK. One in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.
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