Benefits from the Pulmonary Fitness Program include:

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

Conditions Treated:

• Emphysema
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Acute lung disorders
• Persistent asthma
• Frequent or recurrent pulmonary infection
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Acute or Chronic Oxygen Dependency
• Change in baseline breath sounds
• Change in baseline chest radiograph
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
• Lung transplant
• Tracheostomy
• Bronchiectasis

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.

Education is essential to providing patients with the tools to feel empowered and confident to 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
• 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

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 fitness 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 603-924-1718 along with the patient’s latest office note, most recent PFT’s and current EKG.

Pre-enrollment

Prior to beginning the program, each patient will be scheduled for an initial evaluation with a pulmonary fitness staff member. They will obtain a complete medical history, perform a physical assessment, complete a six minute walk test as well as complete health questionnaires. We require an EKG done within the past year. 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 88%, 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.

Essy is a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner with more than 30 years experience in creating and managing Pulmonary Programs in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  She helps those patients with chronic lung conditions achieve an improved quality of life through exercise, education and self-management strategies.  Incorporating humor into all that she does, Essy has a passion for motivating her patients to achieve their goals, one breath at a time.  In addition to being a Pulmonary Specialist, she is also a Tobacco Treatment Specialist, meeting with patients on an individual basis.