Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a program of education and exercise to increase awareness about your lungs and your disease. You will learn to achieve exercise with less shortness of breath. The classes are offered in a group setting so you get the chance to meet others with your condition, which provides an opportunity to give and receive peer support. The skills and knowledge learned in the program will help you feel better and manage your chronic lung disease. You’ll become stronger by increasing your level of fitness. Exercising your lungs and your muscles helps you be more active so you can do the things you enjoy with your loved ones. Pulmonary rehabilitation may even decrease the need for hospital visits.

Learn more about how pulmonary rehab can help you breathe.

Your rehab team often includes doctors, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists and dietitians. Together, these health professionals create a personal program to meet your specific needs.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is usually an outpatient program and may be based in a hospital or a clinic. You may also be able to receive certain forms of pulmonary rehabilitation in your own home or online.

Pulmonary rehabilitation may be recommended to help you breathe easier and improve your quality of life. People that participate in pulmonary rehab may be living with COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension or another chronic lung disease.

Yes. When you start PR, your therapist will assess you. They may have you do a six-minute walk test while measuring the amount of oxygen in your blood. This will show the therapist how much oxygen you need during different types of exercise. Your therapist will guide you through the exercises and help you understand how to use your oxygen during activity.

Pulmonary rehab is so much more than just exercise. It is education and support for people living with lung disease. After you've been going to PR for a while, you may be able to do some of the exercises at home. Always check with your provider before starting an exercise routine at home.

The cost of a pulmonary rehab program depends on your insurance coverage and the program you choose. You can talk to your insurance company or the pulmonary rehabilitation program coordinator from the facility you are planning to receive the services to find out if you qualify for coverage for this service and what the cost to you will be.

There are many factors to consider when selecting a pulmonary rehabilitation program. If you haven’t already, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to determine if pulmonary rehab is a good fit for you.

More information about pulmonary rehabilitation, including a directory of programs in the US that is updated regularly, is available from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

To find a pulmonary rehabilitation program in your area, visit Livebetter.org/directory.