How Can Physical Therapy Help COPD Patients Cope?
Reading Time: 3 minutes
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive lung condition. It significantly impacts quality of life, making simple tasks difficult. That’s especially true with just a small amount of exertion. There is no cure for COPD, but there are treatments that can help to manage symptoms. Physical therapy at an elder care facility is a tool that some COPD patients find helpful as they try to maintain their overall quality of life.
Why Is COPD So Challenging?
Elder Care Greenville SC – How Can Physical Therapy Help COPD Patients Cope?
People with COPD have difficulty with breathing and inflammation in their lungs. They are also more susceptible to illnesses that affect lung health, which can cause them to experience higher incidences of pneumonia and other lung issues. People with COPD often suffer from shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and fatigue. They often experience reduced mobility, muscle weakness, and overall decreased quality of life.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a specific type of rehabilitation program that focuses on improving endurance, lung function, and quality of life for people with lung illnesses. These programs often involve exercise programs, breathing exercises, and other tools depending on what each patient needs most. Pulmonary rehabilitation doesn’t cure COPD, but it can help to reduce the impact of symptoms on daily life.
Breathing Exercises
COPD patients often have trouble breathing because their airflow is restricted and their lung muscles are weakened. Physical therapy works to help patients optimize their existing lung function. They can do this through diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and other breathing exercises. These techniques can help during exercise and daily activities.
Exercise Recommendations
Exercise is important for health no matter what someone’s health issues are, but it can be particularly helpful for COPD patients. Exercise helps to build both endurance and muscle strength, but it also helps improve cardiovascular health, which includes the lungs. Choosing the right exercises is important, and physical therapists at an elder care facility work with their patients to plan an exercise routine that supports their needs and helps them improve their overall health.
Patient Education
Physical therapists have a lot of experience and expertise from working with a variety of different patients. They can put that experience to good use with each new patient they work with, helping them to learn more about COPD and how exercise helps them to live their best lives. Empowering patients can help to improve adherence to treatment plans, too.
Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids
Sometimes COPD patients may need assistive devices and mobility tools, like canes or oxygen therapy. Physical therapy can help patients learn how to incorporate these tools effectively into their daily lives, conserving energy and maintaining mobility. These tools help reduce fall risk, further improving independence and quality of life for COPD patients.
Physical therapy can play a crucial role in helping COPD patients learn to live well with their illness. Over time, what they learn can help them to lead fulfilling lives even with challenges related to their respiratory health. Optimizing lung function is an important part of allowing COPD patients to stay as strong and as healthy as they can.
