Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service

Community nursing Oxfordshire Older adults

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

When you develop a lung condition most people find that it can get more difficult to do the normal day-to-day activities without getting breathless.

Getting out of breath can be very frightening and can make you quite anxious which makes your breathlessness worse.

You may find that you start to avoid doing activities which make you breathless and over time this can cause you to become less fit, more tired and more breathless.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation can help to break this vicious cycle.

The main aim of Pulmonary Rehabilitation is to help you cope with your breathlessness, helping you to feel fitter and stronger.

How can it help me?

  • Increase my exercise capacity.
  • Strengthen my muscles.
  • Help me to manage my breathing better.
  • Educate me about my lung condition.
  • Reduce my risk of flare-ups.
  • Increase my confidence.
  • Help me to maintain a healthy weight.

What could I gain?

Understand your breathing

Feel stronger

Feel more confident

Stay independent

Accessing the service

You can be referred to Pulmonary Rehabilitation by your GP, practice nurse, consultant, respiratory nurse or physiotherapist in Oxfordshire.

What will I have to do?

You will be invited to attend an initial assessment where you will get to meet the team. We will find out about you, your lung condition and how it affects you.

We will ask you to complete some questionnaires (we can help you with these if needed) and then ask you to do a simple walking test so that we can see what you can manage.

This will enable us to set the right exercises for you when you start the course.

You are very welcome to bring a family member or friend with you to your appointment.

What happens next?

You will then be asked to attend twice a week for six weeks, for two hours at a time.

NHS staff deliver the Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme in community gym facilities rather than NHS buildings.

In each group we aim, to have ten to twelve people who all have lung conditions and suffer from similar symptoms.

During each session participants will do about 45 minutes of supervised exercise, have light refreshments and followed by an education session.

Topics covered

The education topics are:

  • Introductory talk
  • Managing breathlessness
  • Understanding your lung condition
  • Airway clearance
  • Benefits of PR and exercise
  • Medications
  • Managing flareups
  • Energy conservation
  • Sleep and relaxation
  • Eating well for your lung condition
  • Talking therapies
  • Continuing exercise

Some of these topics will also have input from a Dietitian, Occupational Therapist or Talking Therapist.

We aim to create a very informal and relaxed environment for you to exercise and learn together.

At the end of the course we hope that you will continue to exercise regularly to maintain the benefits you have gained.

Exercise classes

These local organisations provide exercise classes:

It doesn’t matter if…

You get breathless

You use a walking aid

You use oxygen

You feel worried

You work at your own pace. Our team will support you.

Looking after your lungs

We know that people can get quite anxious about going to a gym. Asthma and Lung UK have some useful resources including a film of patient’s experiences of Pulmonary Rehabilitation which you may find helpful.

You wouldn’t forget to take your inhalers. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is just as important to improve your breathing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a specially designed programme for people who get breathless, and an integral part of the overall clinical management of your lung condition.

You will have been referred by a doctor or health care practitioner involved in your care this may be your hospital consultant, GP, practice nurse, community respiratory nurse, or physiotherapist.

PR involves a programme of exercise, education, and support to help you better manage your lung condition.

We offer two versions face to face in a local venue or virtually via Microsoft Teams from your home.

Both versions run twice a week for 6 weeks, via 2-hourly sessions. Sessions begin with a warm-up, followed by an hour of exercise, before a cool-down and an hour of education with biscuits, tea, and coffee.

PR has been shown to improve breathlessness, physical condition, and wellbeing. By engaging with the programme, we can help you make changes to your lifestyle that, if continued, will benefit you over the following years.

How will it help my breathing?

Improving your general fitness and muscle strength will improve your breathing and reduce your sensation of breathlessness.

Our education sessions, delivered alongside the exercise programme, can also help you to learn more about your lung condition and how to manage your breathing.

If I get severely short of breath on any activity, can I still come?

Yes definitely. Although you will exercise as part of a group, all group members will be advised to exercise at their own level, and the exercises will be adapted to suit your needs. Some of the group members may be using oxygen again, this is no problem.

It is advised that you attend even after having a chest infection, or after you have been discharged from hospital due to a chest infection. PR can help you actively recover and rebuild strength after an infection or hospital stay.

If I have other health problems that affect my mobility, will I still be able to benefit from PR?

Yes definitely. We will work with you to adapt the exercises to your individual needs and goals.

For those relying on mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers, or scooters all local venues have accessible entrances, and venues requiring access to additional floors have lifts available to users.

Virtual PR is another option if travel/access is a problem. If you have any concerns or need further adjustments, let the team know.

If I have a holiday or other appointments booked, can I miss a few sessions?

We encourage everyone to attend all the sessions, if possible, to gain the most benefit from the course.

However, you will still see an improvement in your breathing if you miss a few sessions.

Please always let the team know if you are unable to attend for any reason.

Are there any transport services available?

Our service does not currently provide transport.

If transport is an issue, please contact our office to discuss this as there are a limited number of voluntary services in Oxfordshire that may be able to help.

A small fee is charged to cover costs.

If transport issues cannot be resolved, Virtual PR is another option.

What should I wear and bring with me?

Wear comfortable, loose clothing, and flat shoes with your toes covered.

Please bring your reliever medications and a small bottle of water.

What happens at the assessment?

The information gathered at assessment will ensure that your exercise programme is appropriate and safe for you.

It is an opportunity for the team to meet with you, and to get to know you better.

We will ask a range of questions about your general health, your chest symptoms, and your medication.

We will check your blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels.

We will ask you to complete a short exercise assessment.

If you are unable to attend a face-to-face assessment and/or plan to attend a virtual course, this assessment will be completed virtually via Microsoft Teams or by telephone.

What technology or equipment do I need to attend Virtual PR?

You will need a reliable internet connection, a computer, laptop, or tablet with a camera and microphone.

We do not recommend using a Smart Phone as it can be difficult to follow the exercises on the small screen.

You do not need any exercise equipment we will provide you with a TheraBand for the exercises by post.

You will need a sturdy chair and a small space to move around in.

We request that you keep your reliever medications and a small bottle of water close by.

What if I need help setting up my technology for Virtual PR?

We will send you written instructions on how to set up for Virtual PR.

If you need assistance, we are happy to complete a tech check with you where we will provide some guidance.

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