A good place to start is to check with your GP and make sure you fully understand your COPD, your medications and how to stay as well as you can. This includes getting your flu vaccination, attending follow up appointments and so on. Discuss your work with your GP. How much physical effort you need, […]
The best way to get the most from pulmonary rehabilitation is to maintain or improve your fitness after the programme of sessions have finished. We know that people who stop exercising after pulmonary rehab can lose the benefits they had gained. The only way to maintain your improved way of life is to carry on […]
Many pulmonary rehabilitation classes are based in the community to make them easier to get to. However, if you are unable to get there yourself, ask the programme organiser if they can arrange transport. Not all pulmonary rehab programmes will be able to offer this. However, there may be other local schemes that you can […]
Most health care professionals can refer you to pulmonary rehabilitation so make sure you ask them about it if you think this could help you. If you have an MRC score of 3 or above you can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation (see below). Do not go to the gym until after you have been to […]
“I wish I had done these classes years ago”. “I’ve now got the upper hand when it comes to my breathlessness”. “When I get breathless, I don’t make it worse by panicking like I used to do”. “I feel like I’ve got my life back”. “It is not an exercise class really, it is a […]
Information and education topics are tailored to the needs of the group. Topics that the information sessions may cover are: How the lungs work. How to live well with your lung problem. How to manage a flare-up or exacerbation. How to clear your chest. Medicines and inhalers. Help to stop smoking. How to control your […]
You will never be made to go to pulmonary rehabilitation if you don’t want to. If you are not sure whether it is for you, ask if you can go along to a local class for a ‘taster’, or see our video clip. Ask a healthcare professional what other things you can do to be […]
Please don’t worry! Pulmonary Rehabilitation can be adapted to suit almost anyone. It is especially useful if you have recently had an exacerbation or flare up and you are recovering. One of the main aims of pulmonary rehabilitation is to teach you how to manage your breathlessness and be active. Before you start the class, […]
This diagram shows the cycle of inactivity in red. By being more active and going to pulmonary rehabilitation you will start to change the cycle to the green pathway.
There will be a warm up with stretches. A gentle exercise session will strengthen your muscles. This will improve fitness and will help you to do more before feeling breathless. You will feel less worried by your breathlessness. A circuit of exercises at your own pace. A cool down with stretches. Exercises in the circuit […]
