Taking a breath is something we do thousands of times a day without a second thought, but for patients with underlying lung issues, drawing a deep breath can be incredibly difficult. If you’re dealing with labored breathing, shortness of breath or are chronically coughing, you may have an underlying pulmonary condition that warrants attention. You may be surprised to learn that one of the best places to turn for pulmonary rehabilitation is a physical therapy clinic like OrthoRehab Specialists. Below, we explain how our team can help you overcome your pulmonary issue so that you can get back to breathing like normal once again.
What Conditions Can Pulmonary Rehabilitation Treat?
Pulmonary rehabilitation therapy is typically the first line of treatment for patients dealing with a range of different breathing challenges. Oftentimes it is recommended as part of a comprehensive treatment program for patients dealing with issues like:
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Lung Cancer Rehabilitation
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary rehabilitation has also become a popular treatment recommendation for patients suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19. Patients with post-COVID or long COVID oftentimes find it hard to take a deep breath or they get winded more easily, and that can greatly impact your quality of life. If you’re still facing breathing challenges long after you’ve fought off the coronavirus, it’s time to connect with a physical therapist for a course of pulmonary rehabilitation.
How Is Pulmonary Rehabilitation Performed?
Your physical therapist will use a few different techniques to help improve your overall breathing strength and capability. Some techniques that may be used during your pulmonary rehabilitation sessions include:
- Aerobic Exercises – Patient-specific aerobic exercises can strengthen both your lungs and your heart, helping them to work more efficiently.
- Core Exercises – Exercises, stretches and movements that target your core can help improve your posture and take pressure off your lungs and your chest cavity.
- Deep Breathing Exercises – Specific deep breathing exercises can help teach your body how to take in more air with less effort. It can also help you find a sense of calm when you are struggling to catch your breath.
- Posture Improvements – We can also closely evaluate your seated and standing posture and teach you how to make simple adjustments to take strain off your lungs and make it easier for you to fill your lungs with air.
You may notice improvements in your breathing capabilities after your first pulmonary rehabilitation session, but most patients need to pursue weeks of regular pulmonary PT in order to get the most benefit from the program. Most patients can expect to partake in 8-12 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation, but your specific program will be based on your individual needs. You can also expect to be given some home-based exercises to perform from the comfort of your home to further your progress between in-clinic sessions.
Let us help improve your breathing function so that you can take your mind off breathing once again. For more information, or for help with a different physical issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
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