The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an excellent way for you to learn how to manage your disease and stay active while living with COPD. PR is a supervised, multi-week program that helps people who have lung diseases like COPD to live and breathe better through exercise, education and support.
Participants must be referred to a PR program, which is typically offered by a hospital, with sessions being held at the hospital or at local recreation or community health centre.
Virtual, at-home exercise and education
The demand and need for PR far exceeds the number of spaces in programs across Canada. Although PR is highly recommended as part of a treatment plan for COPD and other lung conditions, it can be difficult to access a local program (if there is one nearby) due to waiting lists, lack of transportation or inability to take time off work.
The Canadian Lung Association offers a free, online program of exercise and education called BreatheSTRONG that can be done by anyone in the comfort of their own home. It is a great way to maintain regular physical activity following pulmonary rehab or can be done as you wait for a spot in an in-person program.
This section was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Astra Zeneca Canada.