Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapy
People who suffer from chronic and ongoing breathing problems or cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions can benefit tremendously from Vital Physical Therapy’s Pulmonary Physical Therapy Program. The program aims to help patients reduce and control their symptoms with the evidence-based program led by board certified cardiopulmonary clinical specialist. Considering your personal condition, the program will be modified to fit your needs. The program consists of a 1-hour session, 2 times a week for 9 weeks. This includes the initial evaluation and re-assessment prior to discharge from the program. With our personalized program, we hope to revitalize your condition and help you get your life back to normal.
Conditions That Can Benefit from Pulmonary Physical Therapy
- COPD: Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Interstitial Lung Disease: Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Asthma
- Recurrent Chest Infections
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Hyperventilation Syndrome/Panic Attacks
- Recovering Post- Lung Surgeries: Lung Transplant, lobectomy, lung volume reduction surgery, lung cancer, etc.
- Medically complex patient with multiple co-morbidities
What You Will Accomplish with This Program
While suffering from breathing problems, it can be hard to remember what life was like breathing normally. You may have had to adjust your day-to-day activities in order to accommodate your condition. With this program, we aim to improve our patient’s lives by improving their condition. With this program, patients will reduce their symptoms along with reduction of exacerbations and future hospital admissions. The quality of life will be improved with strength, balance, and amount of tolerable exercise and functional activities. You will also be taught effective breathing techniques to reduce the feeling of breathlessness. Our clients are empowered through the use of therapeutic exercises, breathing strategies, HEP and education of self-management of the disease before they are discharged from the program.
Personalized Evaluation
- History of symptoms and current condition.
- Summary of prior activity in home and work environments.
- Monitored exercise testing for a detailed analysis for heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and perceived rate of breathlessness.
- Lung function testing
- Quality of life questionnaire
- Assessment of other co-morbidities like musculoskeletal, neurological and balance deficits
- Assessment of impairments of mobility and ADL due to breathing problems.
Therapeutic Techniques
- Exercise Prescription– Exercises to perform at home based on testing results and personalized program.
- Breathing Techniques- Different breathing styles to help your condition.
- Relaxation Techniques– Relaxation can help control breathing.
- Electrotherapy– Including hot/cold packs, ultrasounds, e-stim, TENS.
- Inspiratory Muscle Training– Computer simulation program to improve athletic performance and breathing volume.
- Positioning for Breathlessness– Different positions can improve breathlessness.
- Autogenic Drainage and Postural Drainage- Draining fluid from the lungs
Education
- Benefits of Exercise for Lung Disease– Exercise can benefit the lungs tremendously.
- Inhaler Techniques- How to get the most out of inhalers.
- Energy Conservation– Conserving energy can relieve stress on the lungs.
- Stress Management & Relaxation– This helps maintain steady breathing.
- Self-Management of Disease– Managing the condition for a healthier life
- Breathing Control and Positioning for Breathlessness– Controlling breathing can relieve stress on the lungs.
- Airway Clearance– Blocked airways can strain your lungs more.
- Medication– Information about medications that can be beneficial.
- Oxygen Therapy– For low oxygen levels.
- Smoking Cessation– Advice on quitting smoking and the many benefits.
Special Equipment
- Monark Cycle Ergometer- Exercise testing bike.
- Chest/Lung Clearing Devices– PEP Masks, Cornet, Flutter, Acapella, Incentive Spirometer.
- TRAINER– Computer based Inspiratory Muscle Trainer program can help increase exercise tolerance, reduce sensation of breathlessness and improve quality of like in conditions like COPD, chronic heart failure and cystic fibrosis.
Contact Us
With a combination of personalized exercise plans and education, Vital Physical Therapy can help a patient who has recently endured a cardiac event recover and improve their life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to start your recovery.