Benefits of Exercise as

a Form of Pulmonary
Rehabilitation

Inactivity and COPD

COPD patients suffer from chronic breathlessness
Shortness of breath leads to:
Progressive inactivity
Declines in functional capacity
Possible Isolation at home
Weakened respiratory muscles
atrophy of accessory muscles
Cardiac Impairment

Breathlessness
You get
more
breathle
ss

You Feel
Breathles
s

Your
muscles
become
weaker
and less
efficient

You
do
less

You
avoid
activities
that
make
you
breathle
ss

Managing Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD can be managed through
Respiratory Therapy Methods
(exercise) to:
1.Gain Strength
2.Reduce anxiety and depression
3.Improve Shortness of Breath
4.Improve Quality of life
5.I m p r o v e e x e r c i s e c a p a c i t y
6.Increase independence, self
knowledge and awareness

Main Benefit of Exercise as a key

component in improving breathlessness
Exercise is key in improving breathlessness by
breaking the cycle
Exercise conditions our heart, lungs and muscles
to work together efficiently
Strengthen/ improve respiratory muscles
Exercise maximizes our bodies ability to perform
activities of daily life and gain independence

Other Benefits to exercise

Help Reach a healthy weight
Strengthen bones, ability to fight infection
Increase energy level/ enhance mood
Lower Blood Pressure
Improve moods and motivation
Decrease depression

Pulmonary Rehabilitation aims to reduce symptoms,

decrease disability, increase participation in physical
and social activities and improve overall quality of life
for clients with COPD.

*These goals are achieved through client and family education,

exercise training, psychosocial and behavioural intervention
and outcome assessment

It is important to stick with a regular

exercise program
Regular exercise is key
exercise programs are beneficial at
managing COPD symptoms
sticking to exercise regularly
will
ensure that breathlessness
continues to improve and does not take
charge of your life
Exercise programs provide
ongoing benefits, reverting to
inactivity once you see
improvements in breathing,
may cause shortness of breath
to return

Vaughn Community Health Centres Physical Activity Program Goal

The goal of the program is to improve

the quality of life for people living with
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD).
o The Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Program is geared toward the unique
problems and needs of each client
and is implemented by a
multidisciplinary team of healthcare
professionals