Many people have lung disease or heart disease. These problems can cause permanent disability. Simple day-to-day tasks such as showering, gardening or shopping can become difficult or impossible due to shortness of breath. Further inactivity only makes the problem worse. People can often feel helpless.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Cardiac Rehabilitation are both exercise and education programs which can help improve people’s health. They can help improve the physical ability of people who have chronic lung disease or chronic heart disease.

Education sessions can help participants understand their condition. People learn about ways to cope with the physical and mental challenges of having a chronic disease. Exercise sessions can help participants to regain some fitness. They can also help to teach people to look after themselves. Hopefully they can help reduce reliance on family, carers and community services.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The Australian Lung Foundation has developed a Pulmonary Rehabilitation toolkit. This toolkit forms the basis for most recognised programs. The program is run by hundreds of hospitals and community groups across Australia. Details for all Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs can be found on the Australian Lung Foundation website (opens new window).

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs are also available across the country. Programs are listed at the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association website (opens new window). The Heart Foundation also has an exercise program called Heartmoves (opens new window).

Western Health

I have been a patient of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at Western Health since 2004. I have found it beneficial to my health.

Kathryn Barker is the Senior Clinician Physiotherapist - Exercise Rehabilitation at Western Hospital. Ms Barker runs both the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation programs at the hospital’s Sunshine campus.

Many benefits

Ms Barker says the programs have many benefits. They include:

• Reducing shortness of breath
  
• A reduction in cardiac events
• Improving the ability to perform daily activities
• Improving quality-of-life
• Better self-management of symptoms
• Reduced hospital attendance and re-admissions
• Reducing long-term risks such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Obtaining support from other people in a similar situation.

Education sessions

Both Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation programs include education sessions. At Western Health, these sessions are presented by a variety of different health professionals. Experts include physiotherapists, dieticians and psychologists.

These professionals cover a wide variety of topics. Topics include relaxation and stress management techniques, and accessing community services.

Exercise sessions

Exercise sessions include a warm up, aerobic exercises and strengthening exercises. Participants receive individual exercise routines based on their abilities and fitness.

At Western Health, participants attend an initial assessment. They then complete a six minute walk test and are given tasks to complete. These tasks are repeated at the end of the eight weeks and participants re-assessed.

After completion

After completion of the program, participants have several options. They can join a maintenance program run by a Community Health Centre. Participants can also begin home exercise programs, join a gym or participate in other community groups.

Jean’s experiences

Jean has a chronic lung disease. She was referred to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at Western Health by her Respiratory Specialist. The specialist would routinely ask her questions about her exercise tolerance. Questions included how far she could walk on flat ground or an incline. He suggested that she should attend the program to improve her fitness and walking distance tolerance.

Jean found the program very helpful. She learned she is capable of doing much more than she had previously thought. She learned she needs to physically push herself. She was also encouraged by meeting other people in a similar situation.

Coping better

After five weeks, Jean felt that she could physically cope with many more daily tasks than she previously thought possible. She also felt exercise was assisting in “opening up her lungs”.

Once she has finished the program, Jean would like to move on to a community based program. She feels that she is not self-disciplined enough to do regular exercise at home.

Jean was very pleased that she was able to participate in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program. She found the physiotherapists to be very helpful and encouraging. She liked how the program is tailored to each participant.

How to participate

If you have a chronic lung disease or chronic heart disease, discuss with your doctor the benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Cardiac Rehabilitation. They can refer you to a program in your area. You can also contact The Australian Lung Foundation or The Heart Foundation.

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