Discover the Benefits of Pulmonary Rehab

For many people diagnosed with chronic lung conditions, participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program is life changing.

From breathing easier and walking further, to feeling better and living more independently, the benefits of PR have been demonstrated time and time again and is frequently recommended for individuals with chronic lung disease including:

– chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

– emphysema

– chronic bronchitis

– asthma

– interstitial lung disease

– pulmonary fibrosis

– lung cancer

A supervised education and exercise program, PR is customized to the needs, abilities and goals of every patient. Personalized programs are developed and implemented with the input and involvement of physical therapists, respiratory therapists, nurses, and physicians. 

Everyone brings their expertise to help educate you on your condition, teach you exercises that can help you breathe better, manage symptoms, deal with the mental and emotional toll of living with a chronic lung disease, and learn behavior modifications that can lead to improved health. If smoking is a health challenge you have struggled to conquer, we can reinforce your efforts to quit and improve the respiratory symptoms caused by smoking.

Patients are often hesitant to engage in a program that involves exercise—especially if they’ve been limited to their couch at home. However, the less movement you do, the less capable your body becomes at taking in and using oxygen efficiently and the more short of breath you feel when you do move around. Supervised exercise and the use of proper breathing techniques during exertion help you build stamina and gain back control of your breathing. 

Most patients participate in PR two times a week for eight weeks. Upon completion, patients have the opportunity to continue exercising two days per week in our maintenance program, for a small fee. This affords you the ability to maintain what you gained during the first 8 weeks of PR. 

Like any self-improvement effort, what you get out of PR depends on what you put into it. Many patients find the first couple of sessions challenging as their mind and body adjust to the new expectations being placed on them. But with time and effort, it gets easier and the benefits emerge within the first few weeks of starting PR. 

It’s important to note that PR can’t cure you of your condition, but it can help with shortness of breath, fatigue and allow you to engage in activities like cooking and cleaning for yourself, going shopping and enjoying time out with friends and family. In some cases, it may even reduce flare ups and your dependence on supplemental oxygen and certain medications.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a chronic lung disease, contact SVMC's Pulmonary Rehab program at (802) 447-5140 to learn how PR can help you start breathing better and living easier.

Caitlyn Boyd, DPT, is a physical therapist and the Pulmonary Rehab Program Coordinator at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center