What is pulmonary rehabilitation, and who does it help?
A supervised programme for lung patients that brings exercise, education and breathing together.
Most people walk less when they get breathless, and inactivity makes the same task harder. Pulmonary rehabilitation exists to break that cycle.
What does it include?
- First assessment: breathing tests and a six-minute walk to shape the plan
- Exercise: strengthening the arms and legs, back and breathing muscles, and building stamina
- Breathing methods: such as pursed-lip breathing
- Education: how the lungs work, using medicines properly, recognising flare-ups and stopping smoking
- Nutrition and counselling: for weight, muscle, anxiety and depression
Who is it for?
A doctor may suggest it for COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension and some other lung conditions, and it is used before and after a lung transplant or lung cancer surgery. Fibrosis patients benefit from it too.
How long does it take?
Usually two or three sessions a week for several weeks or months. It can take place in a hospital, a clinic or at home. At the end, the first tests are repeated.
Is it risky?
The risk is low. Activity occasionally strains a muscle or bone, and staff then stop the activity.
The rehabilitation centres the doctor recommends will appear here once the doctor confirms them.