Lungnet

1. What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program of education and exercise classes that teaches you about your lungs, how to exercise and how to do activities with less shortness of breath, and how to live better with your lung condition. Pulmonary rehabilitation is now recognized as one of the most effective and important treatments for people with COPD.

2. How will pulmonary rehabilitation help me?

Some of the goals of patients who attend pulmonary rehabilitation include:

• To breathe better
• To be more active
• To have a better quality of life
• To increase strength and endurance
• To be able to perform daily activities more easily
• To decrease anxiety and/or depression
• To prevent severe attacks and hospitalizations
• To return to work

Studies have shown that it can have a significant effect in improving exercise performance, breathing (less shortness of breath), psychological state (less depression and anxiety), fatigue and a patient's feeling of control over their disease.

Patient Stories

Barry

Barry is a 64 year old male in reasonable health, apart from suffering from COPD. In his earlier years he was both a smoker and worked in the mines, before the dangers of both were revealed.

When he was diagnosed with COPD in July 1998, he was working as a bus driver. As a requirement of my job, he was required to undergo a medical examination every two years; this was when the doctor detected he had emphysema. The doctor refused to give him medical clearance to continue transporting the general public and advised him to retire.

Having COPD has greatly affected Barry's way of life. He was an active person before developing emphysema but now finds even simple tasks have become difficult. Chores around the house are hard; he has replaced his lawn with pine bark because he is unable to cut the grass.

Barry attended a 10 week course in lung improvement physiotherapy (pulmonary rehabilitation) which he found very helpful.

Mary

Mary, 60, led an active lifestyle before she developed COPD. She worked for years as an office manager, and had done volunteer work visiting sick people in their homes. She believes she began to develop emphysema around 10-15 years ago, the result of being a 30-year smoker. She quit in 1993 and continued to work, and felt generally healthy, though she experienced frequent breathlessness. Then, in 2001, she was diagnosed with lung cancer, and began undertaking chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Mary is now cancer-free, but continues to feel the effects of COPD. She had been regularly attending pulmonary rehabilitation until June 2007, when she became sick with pneumonia. She receives physiotherapy twice a week and is on 24-hour oxygen therapy, but tries to exercise at home. She is still feeling unwell following her recent bout with pneumonia, but would eventually like to resume her volunteer work.

3. What does pulmonary rehabilitation consist of?

Aerobic (endurance) exercise is a vital part of any program. The types of exercise strongly recommended include walking and cycling. Walking is especially important as many aspects of daily life involve walking. People with COPD may experience breathlessness during activities that involve arm movements such as showering or lifting. For this reason arm exercise training is usually included.

Education sessions for participants and their families are also included in most programs. Topics may include:

• Information on the lungs and how they work
• Medications used to treat COPD
• Oxygen therapy
• The benefits of exercise o Management of breathlessness and other symptoms
• Nutritional advice
• Relaxation and breathing techniques to reduce anxiety
• Accessing community recourses

4. How can I enter a pulmonary rehabilitation program?

You can enter a program either by asking for a referral from your general practitioner and/or your lung specialist. Many programs will also accept patients who contact them directly.

The Australian Lung Foundation maintains a comprehensive national database of programs and can supply contact details for programs Australia-wide. Please call 1 800 654 301 for information on a program near you.

Content updated March 10, 2008