Exercise With Oxygen Therapy (EWOT)

Exercise with oxygen therapy is a method for enhancing oxygen intake during your normal exercise routine. More oxygen inhaled while exercising means more oxygen in your blood, which can have many beneficial health effects. The greatest benefit that so many users appreciate is that exercise with oxygen therapy is completely natural. No supplements or drugs are required to reap the benefits.

The goal of exercise with oxygen therapy is to breathe higher concentrations of oxygen during exercise. To do this you can use oxygen concentrators to increase the purity. Wearing a mask or nasal cannula allows someone exercising with oxygen to breathe in the high-purity oxygen from the machine while using a treadmill, stepper, or any other type of exercise equipment.

While the air we breathe contains oxygen already, our bodies must break down the air and absorb the pure oxygen for bodily functions. Pure oxygen increases the body’s natural absorption rate and can help enrich the body and mind  in many ways:

• Increasing energy levels
• Improving mood
• Improving concentration
• Reducing stress
• Relieving headaches
• Enhancing sports and athletic performance
• Improving sleep

Exercising while using an oxygen concentrator is one of the methods for improving health and wellness with pure oxygen. Exercise with oxygen therapy increases circulation, delivering oxygen rapidly throughout your veins, arteries and capillaries.

Breathing pure oxygen while you exercise also saturates blood more effectively into the body’s tissues, blood vessels and organs. With increased circulation and saturation your body can heal from injuries faster.

Exercising while using an oxygen concentrator is one of the methods for improving health and wellness with pure oxygen. Exercise with oxygen therapy does the following:

• Increases circulation
• Delivers oxygen rapidly throughout your veins, arteries, and capillaries
• Saturates blood more effectively into the body's tissues, blood vessels, and organs
• Speeds up healing from injuries

Use a portable oxygen concentrator or home oxygen concentrator near your exercise equipment. Make sure your nasal cannula or mask has a long enough hose to allow you freedom of movement while you use the equipment. Be sure to focus on your breathing and breathe through your nose. Try to set the oxygen concentrator to continuous flow rather than pulse settings.

There are several types and groups of people who could benefit from EWOT. These include:

• Cancer patients
• Those with diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses
• Those who have cardiac illnesses
• Those who have sleep and/or stress problems
• Those who are athletes or practice sports extensively
• Those who are interested in disease/illness prevention and anti-aging

Be sure to wear light, comfortable clothing while exercising with oxygen therapy. Check with your doctor to know if you are physically fit for this type of therapy. Start out slow, using an oxygen concentrator and exercising for about 15 minutes to get adjusted to wearing a nasal cannula or mask while exercising as well as getting used to breathing through your nose. In some instances, if there are health concerns, it is advisable to check heart rate and blood pressure after the initial 15 minutes.

When done correctly and for no more than 15 minutes at a time, there are no risks or side effects from exercising with oxygen therapy. Breathing higher levels of oxygen is considered safe and there is no risk of oxygen toxicity.

For many patients who are just beginning EWOT, it’s the sudden change in their physical activity levels that can lead to side effects. For people who haven’t exercised in a long time and don’t have the physical stamina to endure a 15-minute session, it’s best to begin gradually and consult your doctor in advance.

When beginning EWOT, you may begin to feel the benefits of exercise with oxygen therapy after a few exercise sessions. You may feel more energized and simply feel better overall. You may also notice an increase in stamina and athletic performance. Because there are not ill effects of exercising with oxygen therapy you will only really see the positive improvements to health long-term.

There are a few exercises that are recommend for oxygen therapy patients to do on a daily or weekly basis. This will not only improve your oxygen therapy symptoms, but will also improve your overall health and wellbeing. 

Leg exercises that don't make you move too much are the most beneficial to you. To add strength to your lower legs follow these simple steps of an exercise called a calf raise:

1. Stand behind a chair and hold on to balance yourself or place your hands on a wall.
2. Breathe in and lift your heels off the ground to only be standing on your toes. 
3. Hold that position for a few seconds while breathing out. 
4. Lower your heels back to the ground while inhaling slowly. 
5. Repeat several times. 

To add strength to your thighs, follow these simple steps of an exercise called leg extensions:

1. Sit in a chair that provides back support. 
2. Inhale and exhale as you push one leg off the ground at a time and push it straight forward in front of you. Do not lock your knee. 
3. Repeat several times.

There are many arm exercises you can try while still receiving oxygen. To add strength to your overall arm, follow these simple steps to do an exercise called an arm curl:

1. Grab light weights and hold them in each hand.
2. Breathe in as you lift the weights towards your chest and then exhale slowly. 
3. Lower your arms back down to a 90-degree angle as you inhale again. 
4. Repeat several times. 

To add strength to your shoulders and triceps, follow these simple steps to do an exercise called tricep extensions:

1. Lie flat on the ground with a light weight in each hand. 
2. Lift and extend your arms so the weights are above your head.
3. Bend at the elbows and slowly lower the weights towards your shoulders. Take a quick pause in this position. 
4. Make sure your elbows are as still as you can keep them to get the most of out this exercise. 
5. Repeat several times. 

Low-impact exercises are great ways to build your endurance without being too harsh on your lungs. Some low-impact exercises include:

• Indoor cycling
• Walking
• Tai chi

Get the most out of exercising with oxygen therapy by following a few tips.

• Breathe through your nose and focus on breathing
• Avoid pulse settings on the oxygen concentrator
• If you visit a gym away from home use a portable oxygen concentrator
• Use oxygen even during your cool down
• Keep a journal to log any improvements you notice from the therapy

You can find home oxygen concentrators and portable oxygen concentrators at The Oxygen Concentrator Supplies Shop. You can also purchase longer oxygen tubing for exercising more easily during EWOT as well as nasal cannulas and masks. Also, you can shop online for all of your supplies from one location. Speak to our knowledgeable staff for help selecting supplies for EWOT. Give us a call at 888-941-1688.