Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung illness that involves long-term respiratory problems. Its indications include shortness of breath, coughing and the production of phlegm, all which can limit your activities at home, work and in the community. Irregularities in your airways bring on breathing issues. Physical therapy can help assuage the symptoms of COPD.
Expect the best at the office of The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center. We pride ourselves on establishing outstanding relationships with all of our patients, as well as our excellent service and attention to detail. Physical therapists are movement experts. They improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education and prescribed movement.
With COPD, your lungs’ airways lose their normal shape and elasticity and are probably inflamed. The airways become less efficient at moving air in and out of your lungs. The resulting shortness of breath leads to diminished physical function and decline in muscle strength. A physical therapist will first evaluate your lung function, review your overall health history and form a treatment plan.
He (or she) will then:
improve your breathing by training you to inhale and exhale more efficiently, which will help you take deeper breaths and increase your ability to exercise. Each breath will become more effective.
devise an exercise regimen to improve your mobility, reduce your fatigue and increase your activity level. The muscles you use to get around will become more durable. The guided exercises will improving your cardiovascular endurance with the use of a treadmill, recumbent bicycle, rowing machine or stair-climber.
guide you as you use weights, resistance bands and medicine balls to strengthen your arms and legs.
improve your balance and help you stay steady while standing and walking, which decreases your risk of falls. This is especially important for patients who must carry around portable supplemental oxygen devices.
When your treatment program has come to an end, your physical therapist will explain the importance of continuing your pulmonary rehabilitation program at home or at a gym. He will emphasize that people with COPD who neglect to continue their pulmonary rehabilitation program on their own backslide on the progress they made during physical therapy.
We would be proud to be your provider of physical therapy. The office of The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center uses the latest advances in knowledge and technology that will provide you with the best, most innovative treatments. Please call us today to schedule an appointment.