Lungs in Action is a community exercise program for Australians living with a chronic lung or cardiac condition. Facilitated by exercise professionals trained by Lung Foundation Australia, the program is designed to help participants maintain the health and exercise benefits achieved during pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation. Di Dunn from Northern Territory, an active participant of Lungs in Action, shares her positive experiences with the program. Read on.
Di’s story
Di Dunn has been living with emphysema for most of her life. Residing in Darwin, she has been participating in Lungs in Action for over 15 years. As president of NT Breatheasy, a Peer Support group for people with lived experience, and supported by Lung Foundation Australia, Di is a strong advocate of the Lungs in Action program.
“I used to use all the special needs buses when I was at work, so I got to know Breatheasy. That then lead me to discover Lungs in Action. The group supports people living with chronic lung diseases, and we meet regularly. The group is facilitated by Raintree Allied Health to support the community and it’s great,” says Di.
Emphysema belongs to a common lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Symptoms include breathlessness with exertion, fatigue and greater risk to chest infections. Lungs in Action is specifically designed with this in mind, to help people who experience these symptoms.
“Lungs in Action is absolute magic! You get to meet people with similar lung conditions, and we work together through exercise. We encourage each other. The exercises are designed to help us improve our daily lives and help with your breathing. For my group, we do it Monday and Thursday,” said Di.
“It’s also so fun. We laugh and joke a lot too. I get so much pleasure of it – because of all the laughing. It’s good to watch others and see how it helps people to improve. You’re exercising while you are enjoying life, and everyone can go at their own pace. We’re all different, but we enjoy it. What more can a person ask for?”
Types of exercises
The Lungs in Action classes are flexible and tailored to suit individual needs, whether you have a chronic lung or cardiac condition. Classes include exercises such as walking or stationary cycling, upper and lower body strength exercises, balance and stretching. There are also seated options for every exercise making it suitable for people who may be more breathless, require supplemental oxygen and/or use walking aid(s).
“For us, we do a warm-up consisting of moving our bodies, walking and things like that to get the body moving. We have 14 stations with 14 different types of exercises to help your body and maintain what we’ve learnt from pulmonary rehab. One station is focused on leg movement, another is lifting weights with your hands. Another is step-ups and so forth. There’s a range of different exercises to suit everyone, so we all enjoy it,” said Di.
“We all live with our different conditions, and have our own struggles, so it brings us together. We may not have connected otherwise. It’s community-building.”
The benefits
Run by Instructors, accredited by Lung Foundation Australia, Lungs in Action:
- Helps to maintain health and well-being benefits achieved during pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation
- Improves symptoms of breathlessness, which make daily activities such as household chores easier
- Allows for greater independence, thanks to improved symptoms and increase in confidence
- Provides opportunities to meet and socialise with people who have similar lived experiences with lung and cardiac conditions.
“We have a brilliant bunch of people. And we always welcome new people who have recently completed their PR. It’s a real community,” adds Di.
“You can see the difference over time with people improving, and able to gain more from their lives.”
Am I eligible?
Lungs in Action is designed for people with chronic lung conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, Interstitial lung disease and Lung Cancer. Patients with stable cardiac conditions may also be eligible for Lungs in Action. To participate, you need to have completed pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation within the last six months and have a referral from your rehabilitation provider.
“The safest and best way to learn how to exercise if you have a chronic lung condition is to take part in pulmonary rebab,” says Curtis Forbes, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. He has worked in numerous healthcare environments with patients, to improve their lung health.
“Your exercise will be prescribed based on your individual health status and the goals you want to achieve. You will not be asked to do anything you are not comfortable with,” he adds.
Lungs in Action classes are located across Australia, however not in every city or town. For more information about rehabilitation, including referral pathways, click here. To find a Lungs in Action class near you, if you are eligible, click here or on the below link to make an expression of interest.