Maintaining the Gains

To maintain the improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life after the completion of a pulmonary rehabilitation program, patients need to continue to exercise. People with severe physical limitations (multiple co morbid conditions and / or frequent hospital admissions) will benefit from a longer pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Options for maintenance exercise programs:

Continue to exercise 3 to 5 days per week by either:

• once a week,  supervised exercise program in a health facility, community or hospital outpatient setting plus unsupervised exercise on 2 to 4 other days per week.  

or

• unsupervised home exercise program with regular review (e.g. every 3 to 6 months) at the pulmonary rehabilitation program

Tips: 

Continue to exercise after pulmonary rehabilitation 3 to 5 days per week

Encourage weekly involvement in community exercise programs eg. Lungs in Action or Heart Moves (NSW)

Monthly supervised exercise is not enough

Regular review and reassessment keeps people on track (e.g. reassessment every 3 to 6 months)

Booster sessions (supervised exercise training for a few weeks in pulmonary rehabilitation program) for people who are recovering from a hospital admission or exacerbation

During or immediately after an exacerbation - reduce the intensity of exercise training

Encourage people to join a local Lungnet Support Group.