There are certain things in life we take very much for granted, and filling our lungs with a deep breath of air is one of them.
For people with chronic lung disease, like emphysema or chronic bronchitis, a pulmonary rehabilitation program is an effective way to help control symptoms and improve the ability to go about day-to-day activities.
Janie Knipper, R.N., M.A., is the program director for the pulmonary rehabilitation program in the Department of Rehabilitation Therapies at UI Hospitals and Clinics.
"Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed for people with chronic lung disease," Knipper says, "and that includes education to help them manage their disease, psychosocial support to help them cope with their disease, and exercise to improve their overall fitness.
"Any person who has a lung problem and who wants to feel better by making lifestyle changes is a good candidate for the program. They have to be ready to commit to regular attendance at the education and exercise sessions, and be willing to try to quit smoking if they are still doing so," she says.
According to Knipper, some insurance companies require that the person participating in pulmonary rehab be willing to try to quit and receive counseling to do so. "There is really no better place for someone to be when they are trying to quit smoking than in a pulmonary rehab program," she says, "because they are surrounded by other people who have quit smoking successfully and can offer helpful advice. And they also will get support from the pulmonary rehab staff that is trained in smoking cessation counseling."
Knipper says the number of sessions of pulmonary rehab depends on the needs of each person, but most rehab programs include 24 to 30 sessions, two to three times per week. They spend approximately 40 minutes exercising, following a program that has been designed specifically for them, as well as some time doing strengthening exercises. "Some people also participate in aquatic therapy in our therapeutic pool," she says. "After they finish exercising, they attend classes to help them learn how to manage their disease and live a healthy lifestyle.
"Pulmonary rehab has been shown to be very successful in improving the functional ability of people with lung disease, as well as improving their quality of life, Knipper says. "It can also decrease the amount of time spent in the hospital because they are healthier and stronger than before participating in pulmonary rehab."
Most insurance companies cover pulmonary rehab as long as specific criteria are met, Knipper says. "When each person comes in for evaluation we make sure they meet the criteria. If they don't, we give them recommendations to follow on their own or encourage them to join our group of people with lung disease who exercise independently at our rehab facility."
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