PULMONARY REHABILITATION

Benefits from the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program include:

• Reduced respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue
• Increased muscle strength and endurance
• Increased knowledge about lung disease and management
• Increased ability to perform tasks of daily living
• Improved quality of life
• Decreased depression and anxiety
• Reduced pulmonary exacerbations and decreased use of medical resources 
• Ability to return to work or leisure activities

The key to achieving these benefits is personal motivation and a commitment to making a lifestyle change!

The program consists of approximately 20 sessions, taking about 10 weeks to complete.  Depending on your health status, you may require additional sessions, and we will work with your insurance company to verify your coverage.  Due to recent changes in program eligibility, there are strict guidelines we must follow.  If you do not meet the criteria, however, we have alternative Medical Rehab programs that we will customize to meet your needs.  

Education is essential to providing patients with the tools to feel empowered and confident that they can better manage the condition. Education topics include:

• Respiratory Medications
• Traveling with Lung Disease
• Anatomy and Physiology of the Lungs
• Energy Conservation and Work Simplification Techniques
• Breathing Retraining Techniques
• Nutritional Aspects of Lung Disease
• Oxygen Use
• Home Exercise Guidelines
• Principles of Exercise
• Environmental Factors
• Warning Signs of Illness
• Self-Management Strategies
• Bronchial Hygiene Techniques
• Sleep Hygiene
• Peak-Flow Meter Use
• Intimacy and Lung Disease
• MDI’s, DPI’s and Nebs
• Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
• Community Resources
• Understanding Medical Tests
• Advance Directives

The exercise program is tailored to each individual's fitness level and capabilities and will be designed to improve flexibility, strength, and cardiopulmonary endurance by incorporating:

• Stretching - Improves muscular flexibility and range of motion
• Strength Training - Use of  hand weights and resistive bands with a focus on upper body exercise to improve respiratory muscle strength
• Aerobic Training - A combination of treadmill, stationary cycle, and upper body ergometer exercise is used to improve overall fitness

Our program meets Tuesday and Thursday 10:30AM - 1PM and begins with the exercise session.  You will be instructed how to use the equipment, coached in breathing techniques (some call this nagging) and safety issues.  The education session follows in The Bond Wellness Center conference room. 

If you are looking for additional resources check out our list now.

Our 20-session outpatient program is designed to treat patients with a wide variety of lung diseases. The exercise, which incorporates stretching, strength training, and aerobic training, is individually tailored to each patient's abilities.

Referring a Patient

If you have a patient you feel is a good candidate for pulmonary rehab and would like to refer him or her in our program, you can download our Referral Form. Once completed, you can fax it to us at 603.924.4651 along with the patient's latest office note and most recent PFT's.  In addition, please complete the stress testing section, indicating whether the patient has had one, will be scheduled for one or if, in your opinion, the patient does not need one. We will be happy to then contact the patient and discuss our program with him or her.

Pre-enrollment

Prior to beginning the program, each patient will be scheduled for an initial evaluation with pulmonary rehab staff in order to obtain a complete medical history, perform a physical assessment as well as complete questionnaires. We require pulmonary function tests to have been completed within the past year and will need these results to determine program eligibility. A six minute walk test will be conducted on the patient's first day of participation. A repeat 6-minute walk will be performed on the last day as part of our outcomes assessment.

Session Monitoring

Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and breath sounds are all checked at rest before exercise. During the session, heart rate and oxygen saturation are monitored using a pulse oximeter while exercising.  We do not use continuous telemetry monitoring; however, it is readily available should it be needed. Optimal oxygen saturation during exercise is at least 90%, and we will titrate supplemental oxygen if necessary. Blood pressure is checked while exercising. Shortness of breath is assessed using the Borg Scale of Perceived Dyspnea.  If the patient also has diabetes, blood sugar will be checked prior to and following exercise. Blood sugar must be between 100 and 250 in order to exercise and above 70 in order to be discharged.