WHO MAY BENEFIT

Persons with severe pulmonary deficits may benefit from rehabilitation services to increase the patient's functional capacity in dealing with chronic pulmonary diseases such as:

• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Pulmonary disease secondary to chest injuries and hyperventilation

OUR GOALS

Our goals are to maximize physical strength and exercise tolerance. The patient should demonstrate increased tolerance for ambulation and the ability to perform activities of daily living with fewer signs of interference by the disease. The therapists will assess aspects of the condition and make recommendations including:

• Education concerning energy efficiency techniques, including energy conservation, work simplification, body mechanics, lifestyle modifications and pacing to increase endurance in daily activities.
• Improving tolerance for activity and provide a systematic long-term regime to enable the person to function at an optimal level in a daily activities.
• Training of breathing techniques, including breathing with daily activities.
• Designing an individualized home therapy program to incorporate techniques learned in rehabilitation into daily activities.
• Lessening frequency and severity of exacerbation, or reducing disease symptomatology (i.e. coughing, shortness of breath and sputum production).

PATIENT PARTICIPATION

The patient's role becomes that of an active participant in learning how actions, choices and attitudes affect the condition and in learning techniques to better manage the condition.