Pulmonary Rehabilitation
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a small and friendly, supervised, personal six-week programme of exercise and education. It can be carried out at a venue local to you. It is aimed at people with long-term lung conditions.
What to expect from pulmonary rehabilitation
What are the benefits?
- Improves the amount of activity you can do
- Reduces your breathlessness when doing day-to-day activities
- Improves your quality of life
- Improves independence in managing your condition
- Provides an opportunity to meet people with similar conditions and share experiences
- Increases your confidence to exercise safely.
What happens after I have been referred?
Once your referral has been received and accepted, you will have an assessment with a clinician who will discuss your options for pulmonary
rehabilitation and plan the next steps with you.
Where will the class be held?
Small group sessions are held in local community venues and home programmes may also be available.
What do I need to bring to the class?
- Comfortable clothes for exercise and flat-soled shoes or trainers
- Reliever inhaler and spacer, if used
- Other medications if needed, such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray or insulin
- Walking aids, if required
- Oxygen, if used
- Drinks bottle
- Reading glasses, if required.
What happens during the class?
The class is led by a specialist respiratory clinician with input from other healthcare professionals. Each class will include a warm-up, exercises and a cool-down.
Everyone exercises at a different level depending on their ability. You will get out of breath when you exercise, but this is part of your rehabilitation. You will be monitored carefully and never be asked to do more than you can safely manage.
The sessions also include a discussion or talk on a topic relevant to your condition. These will include subjects such as lung anatomy, inhalers, the
importance of exercise and managing flare ups.
About this leaflet
Author: Naomi McKnight, Respiratory Physiotherapist
Written: March 2023
Approved: March 2023
Review date: March 2026
Edition: v1