Pulmonary rehabilitation

Living with chronic lung disease can make it challenging to perform even the simplest of daily tasks. Our pulmonary rehabilitation program can help you build the muscle strength and stamina you need to get back to living well.

What is pulmonary rehabilitation?

Our comprehensive program helps you manage your lung disease, increase your energy and improve your quality of life. The program focuses on safe exercise, nutrition and maintaining healthy self-care habits. Using a team approach, you’ll work with registered nurses and registered respiratory therapists or exercise physiologists.

Our pulmonary rehab exercises start at a level that you can handle, which may include walking and seated exercises.

Who can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation

If you have chronic lung or chest conditions, our pulmonary rehabilitation program is designed for you. We can help you manage:

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Lung cancer
• Lung disease
• Post-COVID conditions
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Pulmonary fibrosis

Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation

By incorporating regular exercise and healthy lifestyle changes into your life, your ability to perform daily activities will improve.

Our pulmonary rehab experts will help you:

• Restore your lungs to their highest functional capacity
• Increase muscle strength and endurance
• Improve your quality of life by decreasing respiratory symptoms and complications
• Learn self-management skills
• Improve your emotional well-being
• Reduce hospitalizations

Is pulmonary rehab the same as physical therapy?

Physical therapy and pulmonary rehab both use a combination of exercise and education to aid in your recovery. Pulmonary rehab uses specific rehab techniques that focus on improving lung conditions and related symptoms.

When should you be referred for pulmonary rehabilitation?

Your doctor may recommend pulmonary rehab if have a lung condition and are experiencing symptoms.

Getting started with pulmonary rehab

Before beginning our program, you’ll need a referral from your doctor and participate in an interview to gather your health history. You’ll also complete diagnostic tests to evaluate your lung function and overall condition of your lungs and heart.

Pulmonary rehabilitation program

We’ll work with you to determine your goals for rehabilitation and to develop your individualized program. Your program will include:

• Orientation and a six-minute walking test to prepare an individualized treatment plan
• Exercise to improve physical conditioning (two to three sessions per week for up to 12 weeks)
• Education for independent self-management skills, including breathing retraining, medications and proper use of inhalers, nutrition energy conservation and relaxation techniques
• Emotional support through group sessions

During each session, we’ll monitor your heart rate and check your oxygen saturation levels. You’ll exercise, which may include riding on a stationary bicycle, walking on a treadmill, working with hand weights or doing steps exercises.

Chest physiotherapy and other percussion techniques may also be used in combination with these exercises.

Find a pulmonary rehab location near you