What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?
Pulmonary physical therapy has been proven to be a successful intervention strategy for people of all ages who have issues involving the lungs. Shortness of breath, endurance, and health related quality of life are often affected when the lungs aren’t functioning to their full potential. Physical therapy is an important aspect of pulmonary hygiene that will allow people to function more comfortably at a higher and more independent level.
Benefits
Therapy in Motion’s goals for patients with pulmonary issues focus on slowing disease progression and limiting the frequency and duration of symptoms. Improving endurance will improve pulmonary function. This allows functional tasks of walking, cleaning, and dressing to become more manageable. Decreasing mucus secretions will also make it easier to breathe and lower the risk for infections. Improving posture, thoracic mobility and rib function is the foundation of our treatment. Easing the symptoms of pulmonary diseases will improve patients’ quality of life.
Common Diagnoses
Common Conditions benefitting from Pulmonary Physical Therapy:
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Bronchiectasis
*Services are not available at all locations. Call or click the location page near you for that center’s services.
How We Treat
There is no cure for many pulmonary diseases. However, physical therapy can slow the disease progression by improving thoracic and rib function and by controlling breathing at rest and with activity. Physical therapy also helps disease progression with manual therapy, endurance training, stretching, strengthening, and breathing exercises.
Treatments performed for pulmonary diagnoses include:
- Strengthening the muscles of inspiration
- Diaphragmatic and segmental controlled breathing exercises
- Airway clearance
- Manual therapy for thoracic spine and rib mobilization
- Myofascial release to relax overworked muscles used to help with breathing
- Endurance training
- Weight training
- Posture awareness
What to Expect
Every patient has a unique health history, diagnosis and personal goals. When you come for your first appointment, we will create a personalized treatment plan for you.
We work with most major insurance providers and do our best to help keep the paperwork pain-free. If you’d like to confirm your insurance coverage, please let us know and we can verify when you schedule. If your insurance provider requires a co-pay, we will ask for this payment at each visit. We accept payments by cash, check or credit card.
When to Arrive
On average, a patient’s first visit lasts about an hour. We typically ask patients to arrive 15 minutes early to sign-in, complete paperwork and/or change clothes.
What to Bring
On your first visit, you’ll need to bring your physician referral or prescription (if needed), your insurance card, your primary registration forms, your ID or driver’s license and your co-payment (as applicable). If desired, you may bring a change of clothing.
How it Works
During your first visit, your physical therapist will do an initial evaluation and discuss your plan of care. The therapist uses this information to set goals for your continued treatment. Physical therapy goals may include improved movement, strength, endurance and flexibility, as well as decreased pain. Your subsequent visits will focus on treatment that is based on your diagnosis and individualized goals.