Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an eight week exercise and education program designed to teach patients the skills needed to exercise safely and manage breathlessness. The primary aim of Pulmonary Rehabilitation is to reduce symptoms and any activity limitation by increasing patient mobility.

The goals of Pulmonary Rehabilitation are to:

• Increase exercise capacity by reducing activity limitations and increasing participation in everyday activities
• Reduce the symptoms of fatigue
• Improve quality of life.
• Improve mood and motivation.
• Improve adherence to recommended treatments.

Enhance participation in therapy decisions by building self-management capacity.

People eligible for Pulmonary Rehabilitation are those diagnosed with chronic respiratory conditions including but not limited to:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Bronchiectasis
• Asthma
• Interstitial lung disease
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Lung cancer

People awaiting or post lung transplant or other thoracic surgery excluding cardiac surgery

• Physiotherapists
• Exercise physiologists
• Dietitians
• Occupational Therapists
• Pharmacists
• Psychologists
• Speech Pathologists
• Specialist Nurses
• Allied Health Assistants

Following an assessment each patient will have access to two exercise sessions and one education session each week for 8 weeks.  The exercise component is tailored to each individual’s needs and goals to increase physical ability. The education component assists patients manage their condition, by providing knowledge in areas such as breathing techniques, using medications and energy conservation.

Following the eight weeks each patient will be encouraged to continue with a home based exercise program or may be referred to a suitable community based option.

A referral from a medical, nursing, care coordination or allied health professional is required to access this program.

The Program Assistant will contact each patient referred regarding appointment times.