Effective pulmonary rehabilitation

What is pulmonary rehabilitation and how does it work?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a long-term and intensive exercise program that has been specially developed for people with lung problems. By staying active, these people can break the cycle of shortness of breath. The program is completed together with a registered physiotherapist from Fysiotherapie Iburg. Effective pulmonary rehabilitation ensures that you are less short of breath and have more energy. It is important to continue with the program, even if you sometimes feel less well. Stopping the program can then lead to the complaints returning.

Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation

People with lung problems quickly become short of breath during exertion. That often prevents them from keeping moving. A tailor-made exercise program helps people break this spiral. The pulmonary rehabilitation program has been developed especially for people with these complaints. The program helps them with their complaints.

Exercise gives you breathing space

The specialized physiotherapist is responsible for the treatment and guidance of patients with lung disease. A distinction is made in the treatment of: COPD, Asthma and other lung-related complaints. During the exercise program you work together with the physiotherapist to exercise healthily and responsibly. The aim of the program is to experience less shortness of breath, more endurance and an improvement in the quality of daily life.

Treatment course

You can register for pulmonary rehabilitation in various ways, for example via your GP or pulmonologist. It is important that a lung function test has been done and that you have a referral letter from your treating specialist.

During the first extensive intake interview with your physiotherapist, you will discuss together what nuisance you experience in daily life due to your lung condition. You will also be asked in detail about your load and capacity pattern (what activities and rest do you do during a day). It is important to get a good overview of your complaints during different activities.

During the second appointment, various tests are administered. We will determine what your request for help is and which treatment suits you best. After clarity has been obtained about these matters, treatment goals are drawn up in consultation and a treatment plan is drawn up.

The most common treatment goals for people with lung problems

• promoting mucus clearance (coughing up)
• improving exercise capacity
• reducing dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• improving the quality of daily life

During the treatment, the physiotherapist will closely monitor your progress and when the treatment goals have been achieved, your physiotherapist will inform you about the options for aftercare to maintain the achieved effects.