Pulmonary rehabilitation is a medically monitored exercise and education program that focuses on increasing cardiopulmonary fitness, respiratory muscle strengthening, breathing re-training and pulmonary disease management. It is a comprehensive initiative for individuals living with chronic pulmonary disease.
The length of your pulmonary rehabilitation program will be tailored to your specific health needs, goals and progress. The MacNeal Hospital pulmonary rehab teams will work with you to ensure you get the optimal support and guidance needed for improving your quality of life living with chronic pulmonary disease. Each team is specifically trained in pulmonary rehabilitation to ensure the highest quality of care for patients during their visits and throughout the program.
The MacNeal Hospital pulmonary rehabilitation program helps facilitate improved pulmonary disease management by equipping individuals with the tools and knowledge to live healthier, more active lifestyles.
The program offers a multitude of benefits that contribute to improved physical fitness, reduced symptoms and improved long-term quality of life, such as:
- Enhanced exercise capacity: Structured exercise regimens help improve cardiopulmonary endurance and strength.
- Easier breathing: Techniques help individuals breathe more easily and manage breathlessness.
- Reduced symptoms: Patients may alleviate pulmonary symptoms, like shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue.
- Enhanced quality of life: Through improving breathing and exercise capacity, individuals can participate in activities in their daily life with more ease.
- Stress reduction: Incorporating stress management techniques aids in alleviating the emotional challenges that can come with living with chronic lung disease.
- Improved self-management skills: Individuals manage their lung disease, medications and oxygen therapy through regular education.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for those who have been diagnosed with:
No two patients have the same regiment, as every session is tailored to your specific needs, goals and progress. Patients may participate in:
- Aerobic exercise, such as walking on a treadmill, cycling or using a rowing machine
- Strength training with free weights or resistance equipment
- Stretching and breathing exercises to support flexibility and lung function
Certified clinical exercise physiologists monitor patients during their pulmonary rehabilitation sessions. Typically, your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and weight will be checked during each appointment.
The pulmonary rehab staff will also provide pulmonary disease management education and discuss lifestyle changes that can help improve your long-term quality of life while living with chronic pulmonary disease.
Initial orientation
Your first appointment will be an orientation day that may last up to 90 minutes. During this orientation, staff will go over your medical history, medications, oxygen therapy needs and introduce you to the gym by exercising on a couple pieces of equipment and completing a 6-minute walk test.
Ongoing sessions
Most patients will attend sessions for 45 minutes to 1 hour, with each session consisting of:
- 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise (walking, biking, rowing machine and ellipticals)
- 5 to 10 minutes of group-led strength training with free weights
- 5 to 10 minutes of group-led stretching
Pulmonary rehabilitation sessions run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the following times:
- 8:00 am
- 9:15 am
- 10:30 am
- 12:45 pm
- 2:00 pm
- 3:00 pm
The gym at MacNeal Hospital
Most patients in our program will be using the gym at MacNeal Hospital during their sessions. It is equipped with a variety of cardiopulmonary and strength training equipment to support your goals and rehabilitation, including:
- Arm ergometers
- Ellipticals
- Free weights
- Recumbent bikes
- Resistance bands
- Rowing machines
- Stationary bikes
- Treadmills
- Walking track
