Lungs In Action

Exercise maintenance programs, like Lungs in Action, provide a continuum of care for patients, following pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation.

Lungs in Action helps patients maintain the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation over the longer term. The program also plays an integral role in decreasing social isolation and facilitates relationships with those with a lived experience, enhancing community connectedness and belonging.

Benefits for your patients

Research shows that continuing to exercise regularly after rehabilitation helps maintain the health and wellbeing benefits achieved, which keeps patients well and out of hospital. Other benefits include:

• Improve symptoms of breathlessness, making daily activities easier, increasing independence
• Meet and socialise with people who understand what it’s like to live with a chronic condition
• Improves muscle strength and endurance and improves balance, decreasing risk of falls
• Helps clear mucus (or sputum)
• Helps patients maintain a healthy weight
• Improves bone density (resistance/weight-bearing exercise)
• Exercises are tailored to patient needs

Class structure

Lungs in Action classes are facilitated by exercise professionals (Allied Health professionals and Fitness Instructors) who have completed Lung Foundation Australia’s comprehensive, evidence-based training program.

Classes are ongoing or term based (aligned to school terms) and conducted in a variety of venues, including community facilities, gyms and health clinics. Classes are flexible, tailored to suit patient needs and exercises include walking, upper and lower body strength and endurance 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 or use a walking aid.

Lungs in Action is a valuable self-management tool, providing an opportunity for patients to participate in structured, supervised group exercise classes.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Lungs in Action, patients need to have a chronic lung or cardiac condition and have completed pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation in the past 6 months.

The program is also suitable for people with stable heart conditions, who often experience similar symptoms to those with lung conditions, such as breathlessness.

Eligible lung conditions include:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Bronchiectasis
• Asthma
• Lung transplant
• Alpha1-antiitrypsin deficiency
• Interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer

For a full list of eligibility criteria, please click here – Lungs in Action Eligibility Criteria.

Refer your patient

To attend Lungs in Action, patients require a referral from a healthcare professional such as a respiratory or cardiac specialist, rehabilitation physiotherapist or doctor.

Digital referrals can be made by searching for a local Lungs in Action program on Lung Foundation Australia’s Service Directory and completing an Expression of Interest form.

On submission of your referral, our Information and Support Centre team will contact your patient to screen them for Lungs in Action and will discuss other programs and services that may suit their needs.