Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recognised in Australia and across the world as the most effective non-pharmacological disease management intervention which provides a magnitude of positive health outcomes for those living with a chronic lung condition, including but not limited to, increasing overall quality of life, increasing functional exercise capacity and reducing symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue¹. Additionally, PR reduces hospital admissions and length of stay, and reduces re-admissions post exacerbations⁴.

Exercise pathway for people with a chronic lung condition

• Step 1 – Refer patient to pulmonary rehabilitation
• Step 2 – Patient joins a 6-8 week pulmonary rehabilitation program incorporating exercise, education and self-management that teaches people with a lung disease the skills they need to manage their breathlessness and stay well and out of hospital
• Step 3 – Patient attends a Lungs in Action class to help maintain the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation
• Step 4 – Independent self-management

Patients can be referred back into pulmonary rehabilitation if they experience a condition flare-up.

Pulmonary rehabilitation can be conducted in a variety of settings, including hospital outpatient departments, community settings or at home. View pulmonary rehabilitation class locations.

How do patients join a program?

Patients may need a referral from a GP, allied health professional or lung specialist to join a program.

Typical eligibility criteria includes patients who:

• Have a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other respiratory conditions such as bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, chronic asthma or pulmonary hypertension
• Are willing to participate (even if they are on long-term oxygen therapy or are current smokers).

National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Strategy Framework 2023 – 2026

Lung Foundation Australia is pleased to launch Australia’s first National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Strategy Framework. This Framework focuses on building awareness of the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation and on establishing and documenting the compelling case for change in the provision and funding of services.

Help us share the Framework through your networks and advocate for increased access and equity of pulmonary rehabilitation throughout Australia with our promotional resources.

View Education and Training opportunities for pulmonary rehabilitation here.

The National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network

Lung Foundation Australia developed the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network for health professionals delivering PR with the aim to:

• share important updates 
• provide a forum for sharing ideas 
• facilitate peer support to new and developing programs, and   
• promote increased access to pulmonary rehabilitation across Australia.  

By joining the Network you will be invited to our online quarterly meetings. Network members can choose to opt out at any time, and there is no obligation to partake in extra tasks outlined above. Involvement is up to the individual member based on their interest and circumstance. 

If you are interested in joining the network, please email pulmonaryrehabilitation@lungfoundation.com.au for more information.

Training and resources

Training opportunities

• Pulmonary rehabilitation online training – designed to increase the knowledge and confidence of health professionals in the delivery of evidence-based, best practice pulmonary rehabilitation. 
• Pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity online training – provides a brief overview of the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity for patients with COPD and covers the recommended structure of pulmonary rehabilitation programs. 
• Lungs in Action theory online training – provides exercise professionals with the skills and knowledge to facilitate exercise classes for people with chronic lung and cardiac conditions. 
• Lungs in Action practical training – provides exercise professionals with the practical skills and knowledge to facilitate Lungs in Action classes. 

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit provides health professionals with a one-stop-shop resource to set up and maintain an evidence-based pulmonary rehabilitation service. Developed in conjunction with a multidisciplinary national committee, the Toolkit is a globally renowned exercise hub.

• Establishing a service – the key elements in determining suitability and steps required for establishing a pulmonary rehabilitation service.
• Patient assessment – guidance with the assessment of patients referred for pulmonary rehabilitation.
  
• Patient exercise training – overview of the importance of exercise training in managing chronic lung conditions and practical guidance for exercise prescription.
• Patient education – resources to support patient education and the role of exercise in a patient’s treatment plan.
• Patient reassessment – guidance with patient re-assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the pulmonary rehabilitation program.
• Exercise maintenance – Lungs in Action is a community-based exercise maintenance program for people who have completed pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation.

Additional resources

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinical Practice Guidelines – the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinical Practice Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation specific to Australian and New Zealand healthcare contexts. 
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network – a national community of practice network for health professionals interested in pulmonary rehabilitation. The Network aim to share research and other updates, provide a forum for sharing ideas, facilitate support to new and developing programs, and promote access to pulmonary rehabilitation across Australia.  
• C.O.P.E. – COPD Online Patient Education – free online course can help patients understand COPD and how to manage it. It provides easy-to-read information, helpful tips and support to guide patients every step of the way.  

References

1. Dowman, L, Hall, CJ, May, A & Holland, AE. 2021, Pulmonary rehabilitation for interstitial lung disease, Cochrane Database Systematic Review, 2(2):CD006322.
2. Lee, AL, Gordon, CS & Osadnik, CR. 2021, Exercise training for bronchiectasis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4(4):CD013110.
3. McCarthy, B, Dympna, C, Devane, D, Murphy, K, Murphy, E & Lacasse, Y. 2015, Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cochrane Database Systematic Review, Issue 2, Art. No.: CD003793.
4. Jenkins, AR, Burtin, C, Camp, PG, Lindenauer, P, Carlin, B, Alison, JA, Rochester, C, Holland, AE. 2024, Do pulmonary rehabilitation programmes improve outcomes in patients with COPD posthospital discharge for exacerbation: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Thorax, 13:13.
5. Walsh, JR, Pegg, J, Yerkovich, ST, Morris, N, McKeough, ZJ, Comans, T, Paraz, JD & Chambers, DC. 2019, Longevity of pulmonary rehabilitation benefit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—health care utilisation in the subsequent 2 years, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 6:e000500.