Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is an exercise-based, educational program, directed to the patient and the family, which aims to achieve and maintain the individual's maximum level of independence and function in the community.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation can consist of a 12-week programme, during which the patient is required to come to the hospital/nursing home for a structured exercise and education programme at least 3 times a week.¹ The programme starts with an assessment of the patient’s lung status and ability to exercise, and the patient's perception of his lung impairment. With this assessment, an individualized exercise program is designed.

Some benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation include:¹

• Control and reduce the symptom of breathlessness
• Assist patient to achieve optimal level capacity to carry out activities of daily living
• Improve quality of life, promote independence and self reliance
• Increase exercise tolerance
• Decrease number of hospitalization
• Decrease anxiety and depression
• Return to gainful employment for younger group of patients.

Many patients can benefit from this exercise program, such as patients with COPD, as well as patients with other lung diseases. It is important that the patient stops smoking to get the maximum benefit from the pulmonary rehabilitation programme.