Pulmonary rehabilitation

We offer pulmonary rehabilitation for patients who have a chronic respiratory condition, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis.

If you have trouble breathing, muscle weakness or depression because of lung disease, we might be able to help you.

We design pulmonary rehabilitation for each patient. A team of health care professionals will work together under the guide of a pulmonary physician to design an individualized program to increase the quality of your life.

The program

A respiratory rehabilitation therapist will record your pulmonary history. Additional tests, such as a pulmonary function test, chest x-ray or an exercise evaluation might be necessary. A pulmonary physician might perform an exam to determine the best program outline for you. You will need to participate in around 18 to 30 sessions of 1½-2 hours each. After you graduate from the program, we might schedule a follow-up session 6-8 weeks later to reinforce and assess progress.

You achieve your goals through

• Exercise and weight training, which improves physical strength and endurance.
• Respiratory therapy: treatment for symptoms and correct use of home equipment.
• Increased functional capacity through proper breathing techniques, energy conservation and relaxation.
• Education, involving medications, daily activities, stress management, nutrition, basic anatomy and physiology, smoking cessation, managing shortness of breath, environmental control, recognition early signs of an infection, stress management and panic control.
• Leisure counseling, providing leisure skills training within the patient's abilities and information for successful use of community resources.

If you would like to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation, ask your doctor for a referral. For more information, call Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator Kathy Johnson, RRT, at 419-526-8455; or send e-mail to kjohnson@medcentral.org.

More information:

MedCentral Pulmonary Rehab/Lung Disease Support Group

Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD)

Restrictive lung disease

Stop smoking

Last updated September 30, 2004