I have developed a lung issue and can’t breathe anymore, but I love playing sports. What are some good cardio-light sports?
Cycling. If you have a bike you can choose how much power you put through the pedals. I used to commute everyday by bike and I’d really put an effort in each way riding as hard and fast as I could. And one flat I lived in was at the tip of a brutal climb which I used to attack every day, arriving back spent. As it happened I did that same climb today and I struggled to get up it at all, I was definitely fitter 10 years ago!
I took a break from riding for a few years and barely touched my bikes but am now getting back in to it. But this time I’m deliberately trying to go slow. Find the local trails and low traffic areas and pootle along. I’ve been having great fun just exploring. But then if I want to try ride up the big hills I can do that too. I also never used to stop as side for traffic. But you can stop whenever you feel like. Bring some food and a drink and stop for a few minutes or at a cafe.
Social dancing. Salsa, bachata and kizomba. You can dance yourself into a sweat without running out of breath.
*Frisbee golf
- croquet
- shuffleboard
- ping pong
- badminton
- lawn darts
- hop scotch
anything that was considered a parlor game in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Badminton is NOT a low cardio sport. For me anyway.
- Bowling
- Darts
- Boccia Balls
- Shuffleboard
- Golf
- Disc Golf (way better than regualr golf imho)
- Canoeing/Kayaking if you take it easy
Disc golf is so much fun 😀
And much cheaper, but the infrastructure is already there for normie golf if even walking the course would be a challenge. That reminds me that I need to see if my bag of 15 year old pastic still has anything usable in it and go to my local DG course.
I love disc golf but I will warn the OP that if your lung issue is too much to be walking through wooded areas for up to multiple hours, it could get tough finding a course that’s right for you.
I’ve even player a course that essentially zig zagged up and down the face of a big hill and walking it was tough.
I actually do play DG! I try to make sure I look at course reviews before going to know how much vertical there is going to be, haha
Right on, chase them chains then!
…Chess?
Archery is very chill, while still incentivizing you to walk a bit
I’ll third archery. If you’re in the US, some places have free community outdoor ranges, and many YMCAs offer intro courses.
Whatever you do, don’t just buy any old bow a store recommends. Read first!
Oooh, this is a good call, thanks!
You’re welcome!
I suggest joining !archery@lemmy.world or !archery@feddit.org
Archery for sure. You can’t do well if you’re not relaxed!
Bocce
Billiards/Pool/Cue Sports (personal fav)
Darts
Curlingok I was wrong about this one. Seemed pretty laid back but it sounds more intense than I had thought!I’d hazard to suggest playing cards or board games, still has the element of challenge/sport, but doesn’t require too much exertion.
Possibly E-Sports if you’re into that sort of thing. Let the game console / computer do the running.
Curling is probably a tough one to include for someone with a lung issue, at least as a newbie, and without significant modification.
It might work with the right team at a casual club level (I’ve done a “no sweep Saturday” team before). I don’t imagine OP taking to running up and down the ice most of the game while putting in some effort to sweep.
Using a stick delivery is another good way to reduce physical effort. Throwing takeouts alone can wind people.
And then there’s the yelling.
You might get away with throwing lead stones with a stick delivery and skipping for maximum reduction of physical effort even at a more competitive level.
Curling is great fun but I wouldn’t say it’s cardio-light. You’ll spend a lot of time sweeping which can be intense
You could try Boccia
Lawn bowls?
I have “emphysema light”, doctor’s words, not mine. Don’t know if this counts as a sport to you, but kayaking is surprisingly easy on the lungs.
People tend to automatically think “white water”, but I’m in the flattest American state, so kayaking to me is mostly floating a slow river or creek, or at most, paddling around a lake.
The price of admission isn’t bad. FaceBook Marketplace always has deals. All you need is the boat, a paddle, life jacket, whistle, and any other gear you might like. A huge yellow sponge is a must. If you get into it, you’ll see just how versatile one is!
If you take the time to learn and practice proper technique, you can motor around with little effort! We saw a girl in a short kayak blowing her friends out the water at the local bayou last weekend. LOL, she was fascinating to watch from afar, hauling ass with so little effort.
Here’s the thing, the longer the kayak, the less effort. Short boats tend to tack back and forth, wasting your effort. Which is what made the chick on the little 8’ boat so neat!
Target shooting or trap and skeet.
There is a drone race track near me. Took me forever to figure out what it was. Why are the goals 30 feet in the air? What sport is this???
E-bike?
Anyone say cornhole yet?
In the martial arts, Tai Chi is the obvious answer.
Consider Aikido. It’s generally more like choreographed exercises. A lot of dojos are very understanding of physical constraints. Check with your doctor, it might be good way to gently test your limits. Plus, it’s important to know how to fall safely.
I grew up doing Judo, so martial arts have definitely been on my mind. I’ll check out Aikido!
Aw yeah, if you already know your rolls and breakfalls, Aikido is a great thing to check out. At lower levels, the “attacks” are basically two-person katas, usually involving escaping from grabs. At upper levels they do have something called randori but even then it’s all very structured. Aikido gets made fun of sometimes for not having a “live” adversary who’s actively trying to beat you. I’ve read there are some dojos that do competitive Aikido, but I think that’s rare.
