Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Patients with respiratory disorders need to exercise to improve lung function and maintain health. But a typical gym and standard exercises can be intimidating to someone who has trouble breathing during simple tasks.
Memorial Healthcare System's pulmonology specialists has an in-office respiratory therapist that provides pulmonary rehabilitation and helps patients safely and confidently increase their lung function alongside other patients who are in the same situation.
Improve Lung Capacity with Pulmonary Rehab
If your doctor recommends pulmonary rehab, our full-time, in-office respiratory therapist will design an education and exercise plan for you. The program will be customized based on your age, health conditions and lung function.
One-on-one and in groups, you gradually learn to exercise using proven strategies to improve lung function. The respiratory therapist supervises your workouts, offering tips and guidance to continually build lung fitness.
Pulmonary rehabilitation can help you:
- Get stronger
- Learn to breathe better
- Improve your symptoms
- Prevent or control anxiety and depression
- Be more productive at work and at home
- Get back to social activities you enjoy
- Decrease hospitalizations due to breathing complications
Before Rehab Begins
At the start, your respiratory therapist will measure several factors while you exercise:
- Oxygen level
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- How far you can walk in six minutes
These measurements will help your therapist plan your custom exercise program and also evaluate how much you improve over time.
How Pulmonary Rehab Works
Your therapist will offer many strategies to help you learn to breathe better and build lung capacity. You may learn:
- Breathing techniques: Patients practice pursed-lip breathing, yoga breathing and other methods to clear mucus from your lungs.
- Energy conservation: If you learn easier ways to perform daily tasks, you will have more energy and less trouble breathing. Your therapist can show you better ways to reach, lift, bend and more.
- Safe ways to exercise: Your therapist will teach you exercises to strengthen your back, arms, legs and the muscles you use to breathe. As you build strength, stamina and flexibility, everyday tasks will become easier. Your therapist will supervise your workouts and show you how to use supplemental oxygen and medications during exercise.
- Anxiety and depression management: Chronic lung issues can cause anxiety and depression. Your therapist offers tips to avoid and relieve the stress that causes them.
- Nutrition and weight management: A proper diet and healthy weight will help you feel your best. Your therapist offers advice on nutrition, as well as tips on losing or gaining weight.
Lung Fitness After Pulmonary Rehab
At the end of your rehab, your team will repeat the pre-therapy tests to see how much your breathing and health have improved.
Many of our patients want to keep working out at the center—even after they have completed treatment. They feel safe and supported there, they are familiar with the equipment, and they have made friends with other patients. We offer a maintenance/membership plan, so our patients can keep breathing better together.
Contact Us
To make an appointment, call 954-276-1925.
