Pulmonary Rehabilitation In Covid-19 (Exclusive Articles )

Pulmonary Rehabilitation In Covid-19

• It aims to reduce symptoms like  ↓se disability, ↑se participation in physical & social activities, & helps to improve the overall quality of life in chronic respiratory clients.

• Exercise training remains the cornerstone of Pulmonary Rehabilitation programmes. Although exercise training doesn’t directly improve lung function, it causes several physiological adaptations to exercise which can improve physical condition.

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation is important in the recovery from any lung pathology. It improves the lung capacity & also helps in improving the effort of breathing.

• Monitoring your vitals such as Heart Rate.  Respiratory Rate & SP02 is also important.

• All Exercises to be done 3 times a day. Progression of these exercises can be done post follow up.

Uses Of Pulmonary Rehabilitation:-

• Improves Exercise Effort

• Improves Muscle Strength(peripheral & respiratory)

• improves physical activity

• improves health related quality of life

• reduces exacerbations in patients

 

There are 3 basic types of exercises to be considered:-

1] Aerobic exercise tends to improve the body’s ability to use oxygen by decreasing the heart rate & blood pressure

2] Strengthening or resistance exercises can help build strength in the respiratory muscles

3] Stretching & Flexibility exercises can enhance breathing coordination

Additionally pursed lip breathing can be used to increase oxygen level in patients body.The patient inhales normally from the nose & exhales through the mouth in a controlled manner. As exercise can helps to trigger shortness of breath. It is very important to build up the level of exercise gradually.

 

BREATHING EXERCISES-

• Improves the gaseous exchange in the lungs

• ↑ses effectiveness of Cough Mechanism & helps in airway clearance

• Improves the strength,endurance & coordination of breathing muscles

• Maintains or improves chest & thoracic spine mobility

• Corrects abnormal & inefficient breathing pattern thereby reducing work of breathing

• Promotes relaxation

• The co-ordination of these exercises teach the patient how to deal with  breathlessness.

• It improves patient’s functional capacity for performing activities of daily living and return to occupational and recreational activities.

 

IN SIDE LYING POSITION-SEGMENTAL BREATHING:-

Position of patient with one arm raised over head and other hand on upper side of chest and take deep breath through nose and blow out through mouth. Ratio of breathing into blowing out should be 1:2(Example-If you breath in for 2 seconds blow out for 4 seconds)

Repeat the exercise on other side for 5 times.

 

IN SIDE LYING POSITION-CHEST EXPANSION EXERCISES:-

Raise both hands by taking deep breath through nose and while taking hands down,blow out through the mouse.

Repeat the exercise on both the sides for 5 times

 

IN SITTING POSITION-DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING:-

-Place hands above abdomen and take deep breath through nose and blow out through mouth

-Ratio of breathing into blowing out should be 1:2 (Example-if you breath in for 2 seconds blow out for 4 seconds)

-It strengthens the diaphragm which is the main muscle of breathing

 

IN SITTING POSITION-SEGMENTAL BREATHING:-

-Place hands over chest and take deep breath through nose and blow out through mouth

-Ratio of breathing into blowing out should be 1:2

-(Example-If you breath in for 2 seconds blow out for 4 seconds)

-5 repetitions

 

IN SITTING POSITION-CHEST EXPANSION EXERCISES:-

1]Take both hands forward. Raise both hands while taking deep breath through nose and get hands down while blowing out through mouth

-5 Repetitions

 

2]Take both hands forward. Take both hands outward while taking a deep breath through nose. Bring hands together while blowing out through your mouth

-5 Repetitions

 

 

SPIROMETER IN SITTING POSITION:-

Spirometer device helps re-train your lungs how to take slow & deep breaths. Spirometer helps to increase lung capacity & improves patients ability to breathe.

In comfortable sitting position take the mouth piece of spirometer in mouth and take a slow breath in through your mouth to raise the ball in the spirometer up. Take the mouth piece out of your mouth and blow out through your mouth

-Repeat the same in side lying positions on both the sides

-Adjust the resistance of spirometer to the minimal and gradually increase the resistance.

-5 repetitions in each position,to be repeated in every 2 hours.

 

NECK AND SHOULDER EXERCISES:- 

-Helps in reducing use of accessory muscles during breathing

-Improves the mobility thereby enhancing the activity of breathing muscles

-Improves chest wall mobility

1]NECK FLEXION & EXTENSION:-

Sit straight in chair with back supported.Bend your neck forward slowly and extend slowly

-10 repetitions each

 

2]NECK SIDE ROTATION:-

Sit straight in chair with back supported. Move your neck to either side very slowly

-10 repetitions each.

 

3]SHOULDER SHRUGS:-

Stand erect or sit straight on stool. Raise your shoulders slowly towards your ears and then hold for 5 seconds and then slowly lower the shoulders.

-10 repetitions each

 

4]SHOULDER RETRACTIONS:-

Stand erect or Sit straight on stool. Relax both shoulders. Pull your arms backwards while squeezing shoulder blades together.

-10 repetitions each

 

 

LOWER LIMB EXERCISES:-

• Enhances mobility of the individual especially those who are in bed due to the decreased lung condition

• Improves the oxygen uptake of the muscles

• Improves the skeletal muscle strength thereby improving exercise tolerance

• Helps individual in performing activities of daily living

 

1] ANKLE PUMPS:-

Sit straight in chair or Lie straight on a bed. Bend your ankle upwards and downwards slowly as if you are pulling your toes towards you.

-10 repetitions each

 

2]DYNAMIC QUADRICEPS:-

Sit straight at the edge of the bed or Chair with both the knees bent and foot supported on the floor. Slowly straighten one foot as straight as possible and hold for 5 seconds

-10 repetitions each

 

3]MARCHING:-

Sit straight at the edge of the bed or Chair with both knees bend and foot supported on the floor,and both the arms supported over the arm-rest of the chair. Lift alternate leg so that your feet will lift about 2-3 inches off the ground at the speed comfortable for you

-30 repetitions,to be progressed gradually.

Articles is Submitted by – DR.KADAMBARI NARENDRA BHATT