Celebrating 20 Years of Breathing Easier
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Helping you live beyond the limits of your lung disease.
Since opening its doors in 2015, SVMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program has improved the health and lives of hundreds of patients who once struggled to breathe.
A supervised eight-week education and exercise program, PR addresses the specific needs and goals of patients living with:
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chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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emphysema
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chronic bronchitis
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asthma
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interstitial lung disease
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pulmonary fibrosis
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lung cancer
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and other chronic lung diseases
The benefits of PR at SVMC are hard to dispute. The stats show that:
67% of participants report improved endurance.
62% of participants report a substantial decrease in shortness of breath.
52% of participants report a notable reduction in anxiety.
44% of participants report significant improvements in depression.
41% of participants report a marked improvement in their quality of life.
The program is customized to the abilities of each patient. Treatment plans are developed with the input and expertise of SVMC Pulmonologists (lung doctors) and trained physical and respiratory therapists. Teaching proper breathing techniques at rest and during exertion helps patients regain control of their breathing. Supervised exercise sessions help patients safely build stamina.
In addition to exercise, PR features an educational component designed to help patients better manage symptoms, deal with the mental and emotional toll of living with chronic lung disease and learn energy conservation techniques that can lead to improved health.
Most patients participate in PR two times a week for eight weeks. Upon completion, patients can continue exercising twice a week (for a small fee) in a maintenance program to ensure they retain the progress and function gained.
While PR can’t cure lung disease, it can significantly help with fatigue and shortness of breath, and make it possible to engage in daily activities impacted by your condition—things like dressing, bathing, cooking, and cleaning for yourself, grocery shopping, and enjoying time out with friends and family. In some cases, it can even reduce flare-ups and dependence on supplemental oxygen.
If you or a loved one are struggling with a chronic lung disease, contact SVMC's Pulmonary Rehab program at (802) 447-5039 to learn how PR can help you start breathing better and living easier.
Caitlyn Boyd, PT, DPT, Certificate in Pulmonary Rehab AARC/AACVPR, is a physical therapist and the Pulmonary Rehab Program Coordinator at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
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