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All About Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Covid Rehab For 2022

All About Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Covid Rehab For 2022
Taikhum Sadiq

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an intervention and training program designed to exercise, train, and improve the physical and psychological condition of individuals with chronic respiratory disease and promote the long-term respiratory health of these individuals. In the past year, COVID-19 has wrought havoc around the world and the first thing that gets affected because of COVID is the respiratory health of an individual. Even after you have been cured from the disease, the effects of COVID stay within the lungs causing different respiratory ailments and discomfort. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a tailored program that helps battle the effects of COVID-19 and other chronic respiratory conditions and help you restore your daily life to a normal and healthy state.

What is a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program?

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are specially designed training programs for people who have or are suffering from a chronic respiratory condition. The design of the program varies from person to person and condition to condition. On a brief level, pulmo rehab programs involve:

  • Multidisciplinary Input
  • Exercise (Breathing and Fitness)
  • Dietary Changes
  • Disease Education
  • Behavioral Intervention
  • Psychological Intervention

The time period for a pulmonary rehabilitation program can be from anywhere between 6-8 weeks to a year. Depending on the severity of the condition or its after effects, the length of the program is decided by a respiratory therapist. Sometimes, for recurring conditions, a PR schedule might be conducted in phases with varying intensity.

Physical Intervention for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy and change in environment plays an important role in the successful implementation of a pulmonary rehabilitation program. There are three parts of physical intervention involved in pulmo rehab.

1. Functional Training

Functional training involves the implementations of a few things that can ease the stress on an individual who is undergoing PR. They include:

  • Adapting the environment around the individual
  • Replacing daily use heavy objects with lighter ones
  • Placing chairs at the landing of a staircase or bathtubs
  • Using adaptive daily aids for everyday tasks
  • Ensuring good ventilation in the house and especially the rooms
  • Work areas should be convenient to avoid bending

2. Altering Performance Tasks

Altering performance tasks involves reducing the intensity of the daily tasks that you undertake while going through a pulmo rehab program.

  • Slow pace of daily activities
  • Minimize the number of large body movements you make
  • Schedule breaks and rest phases during your day

3. Relieving Symptoms

There are different methods you can implore to relieve the symptoms. Here are a few things you can do:

  • Try to maintain an uninterrupted breathing pattern
  • Avoid talking while eating or while doing a task
  • Depending on your program, take short or longer breaths, do not switch in between
  • Always maintain good aeration in the room that you sleep in
  • Avoid venturing out in the dust

Exercises for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Exercise is the second important pillar of a successful pulmonary rehabilitation program. The exercises that you would usually do in a PR program would be prescribed to you by a respiratory therapist and a physiotherapist. Exercises generally include:

Stretching

Stretching involves pulling and contracting the muscles of the body which helps in reducing the chances of injury and muscle strain. It also helps in strengthening the muscles which are usually weakened due to a chronic respiratory disorder. The lung muscles are the ones most affected by a condition like COVID and stretching exercise can help regain the lost strength of these muscles.

Cardiovascular

Since breathing is the thing most affected by COVID and other chronic disorders, cardiovascular exercises can help improve the body’s ability to use as well as store oxygen. These exercises help strengthen the heart and the lungs thus increasing the breathing capacity of an individual and decrease the chances of breathlessness. Improved blood circulation to the muscles can help enhance their growth thus reducing chest pain and fatigue. Cardiovascular exercises include:

  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Jumping Rope
  • Cycling
  • Skating
  • Swimming

Strength Training

The last step of exercise training or exercise intervention for pulmo rehab is strength training which involves using heavy weights to strengthen the muscles of the body. Strength training can be divided for different muscle groups and parts of the body, but with pulmo rehab, strength training is most applicable to the upper body. This helps strengthen the chest muscles which increases an individual’s breathing capacity and strengthens the lungs to reduce the effects of further conditions.

Top Five Products for Pulmonary Rehabilitation at HPFY

1. The Breather Respiratory Muscle Training Device

The Breather Respiratory Muscle Training Device is an inspiratory/expiratory respiratory muscle training device. It strengthens and activates muscles for breathing, speech, and swallow. The Breather helps improve breathlessness, speech coordination, breathing, and speech quality. It will also improve the safety of swallowing, enhance the clearance of airways and reduce the risk of aspiration.

8 Benefits of The Breather

  • Resistive Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscle Therapy (RMT)
  • Pulmonary and speech therapy device
  • Drug Free
  • Adjustable and independent pressure settings
  • Patient can be in any position for therapy
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Easy to use and clean
  • Independent dial system

Features of The Breather Device

  • Strengthens Inspiratory muscles: diaphragm, external intercostals, accessory muscles of neck
  • Strengthens expiratory muscles: internal intercostals, abdominals
  • Promotes diaphragmatic breathing
  • Generates improved airflow through vocal folds
  • Decreases shortness of breath
  • Improves blood flow to resting and exercising limbs
  • Helps in movement of hyolaryngeal complex
  • Improves respiratory support for safe swallow function
  • Improves protective cough and assists in airway clearance
  • Adjustable and independent inspiratory and expiratory pressure settings
  • Large, easy to read dial settings
  • Mouthpiece engineered to provide superior mouth seal
  • Ergonomic body shape for easy hand grip

How does the Breather work?

The Breather RMT device combines inspiratory and expiratory muscle training, with demonstrated efficacy in improving speech and swallowing in patients with neuromuscular disease such as Parkinsons. Furthermore, RMT in athletes and healthy individuals using The Breather led to improved respiratory functions, heart rate, and peripheral muscle strength and exercise performance.

 

2. Rolyan Ergonomic Hand Exerciser

Rolyan Ergonomic Hand Exerciser features lightweight plastic frame with or without a padded handle that fits comfortably in the palm of the hand. It is offered in a single size that is designed to fit many hand sizes. The frame can be customized to block flexion and extension movements to work the muscles.

Benefits of the Ergonomic Hand Exerciser

  • Ideal for patients that are recovering from moderate to severe injury or surgery
  • Amount of resistance can be customize for each exercise
  • Ideal for use at home
  • Low profile hand exerciser
  • Optimal therapy tool for professional use
  • Can be easily stored

Features of Basic Hand Exerciser

  • Use the latex-free hand exerciser to build strength in the hand, fingers, and thumb
  • Ideal rehabilitation tool increases dexterity and improves grip after injury or surgery
  • Includes four pairs of colored rubber bands with varied resistance (yellow, red, green, and blue)
  • Switch out rubber bands to adjust resistance as user changes exercises or gain strength
  • Hand Exerciser features a padded handle to cushion the hand during rehabilitation exercises
  • Perfect for performing exercises after injury or outside of physical therapy
  • The progressive rubber bands allow therapists to customize the amount of resistance for each exercise
 

3. EMST150 Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer

EMST150 Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer is a medical device designed to strengthen the expiratory muscles involved with breathing, coughing, swallowing, and speech. It is the first calibrated expiratory muscle trainer that is scientifically proven to help individuals who want to enhance their breathing. The EMST 150 is also useful for people with spinal cord injuries, parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, or other degenerative neuromuscular disorders. The device can be used by peoples of all ages and athletes, musician can also take advantage of this device.

Features of the Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Universal size, comfort fit mouthpiece
  • Compact size fits in purse or bag
  • Settings help the therapist to document patient progress over time
  • EMST 150 Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer to improve coughing, swallowing, and breathing muscles
  • Calibration is adjustable from 0-150cm H2O
  • Easy to clean and reuse

How to Use EMST150 Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer

  • Turn the knob of the EMST 150 all the way to the left (counterclockwise).
  • Remove the cap from the mouthpiece and insert the mouthpiece in the EMST 150.
  • Put on the nose clip.
  • During training session sit or stand (sitting is recommended).
  • Take a deep breath in and insert the mouthpiece behind your teeth forming a tight seal.
  • Breath out hard and fast so air rushes through the device.
  • If air went through, turn the knob one full turn to the right and repeat step five.
  • Continue to increase the pressure by one full turn until you can’t blow air through anymore.
  • Turn the knob back one full turn to the left, this is your maximum expiratory pressure and where you will begin training.
  • Repeat this exercise five times, then take a one minute break, this completes one set.
  • Complete five breath sets for a total of 25 training breaths.
  • Aim to complete breath training sessions five days a week.
  • At the end of each week, turn the knob to the right by a quarter turn.
  • After five weeks, you can switch to a maintenance program training three days a week using the final setting knob setting achieved in week five.
  • If you feel lightheaded, stop your breath training session.
 

4. Norco Shoulder Pulley

Norco Shoulder Pulley is ideal for home use, to independently improve range of shoulder movement and coordination following a shoulder injury or surgery. It can be used for exercises while sitting, standing, or lying down. It is designed to set up in minutes by positioning the web strap over the top along the hinged side of any standard door.

Four Reasons to Choose the Norco Shoulder Pulley

  • Independently improve range of shoulder movement
  • Ideal for home use
  • Sets up in minutes
  • Latex-free

Features of the Norco Shoulder Pulley

  • Pulley mechanism and ergonomically designed handles for comfort and effectiveness
  • Pre-assembled and ready to use
  • The webbing anchor fits snugly between the door and frame and will not scratch surfaces
  • Everything needed to perform range of motion exercises at home

How to attach pulley cord to handles?

  • Slide one end of cord down through the center of opening. Pull enough cord through to accommodate a figure-eight weave, as follows.
  • Direct cord under and over the left side of handle toward the center. Continue weaving cord under and over the right side of handle toward the center. This will create a figure-eight.
  • Slide end of cord back up through the center of opening.
  • Grasp both ends of the cord and pull until the loops are tight and secure the base of handle.
  • Lengthen or shorten by simply loosening the cord.
 

5. Drive Folding Exercise Peddler With Electronic Display

Drive Folding Exercise Peddler with Electronic Display provides five function display which indicates exercise time, revolution count, revolutions per minute (rpms) and calories burned. Its four anti-slip rubber pads prevent sliding and protect surfaces. It is ideal for leg and arm muscle exercising.

Features of the Drive Folding Exercise Peddler

  • Scan feature alternately displays all measurements automatically
  • Four anti-slip rubber pads prevent sliding and protect surfaces
  • Resistance easily adjusted with tension screw
  • Attractive silver finish
  • Button cell battery included
  • Completely assembled, foldable design

How to Operate Folding Exercise Peddler With Electronic Display?

  • Remove contents from box
  • Pull legs in opposite direction until locking button snaps into locking receiver. (see figure A)
  • To close, pull locking ring and bend leg down.
  • Repeat on other leg (see figure B)
  • Insert tension knob on top of peddler and turn clockwise to tighten.
  • The tension knob will increase/decrease the amount of tension on the peddler.
  • Tighten/loosen to a level that feels comfortable
 

Where to buy Best COVID Rehab Products Online?

At HPFY, we have an array of the best pulmonary rehabilitation products that are designed to efficient and enhanced respiratory health. Choose from the physical therapy supplie at amazing prices.

 

Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.

 


HPFY Taikhum Sadiq

Taikhum Sadiq

LinkedIn Profile

 

Taikhum Sadiq has been a Health Products For You contributor since 2016.

He is an archaeology student and is passionate about learning about the past and how it impacts our future. He believes ...

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