Physical therapy is a great way to help people who have been injured or are recovering from surgery. People often experience injuries that affect their breathing and heart function, and physical therapy helps them recover by strengthening the muscles around the lungs, improving blood flow through the body, and teaching them new ways of moving so they can do more. In this post, we will discuss some of these benefits as well as what to expect when you visit your local physical therapist for treatment.
Benefits of Cardiopulmonary PT
One of the main benefits of cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy is that it can help improve your breathing. If you have difficulty breathing, the physical therapist will work with you to improve your airflow and make it easier for you to breathe. They may also teach you exercises that can be done at home to help keep your lungs healthy.
Physical therapy can also help improve heart function by strengthening the muscles around the heart and improving blood flow. This can help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, and it can also help people who have already had a heart attack or stroke to recover more quickly.
Physical therapists will also teach you how to move in a way that is less taxing on your heart. For example, they may show you how to walk up stairs without getting short of breath. This can help you stay active and independent even if you have a heart condition.
Best of all, cardiovascular and pulmonary PT can help reduce the risk of future coronary or pulmonary injuries. Because of this, if you have a history of heart or lung problems, it is important to talk to your doctor about whether physical therapy might be right for you.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
If you are considering cardiovascular or pulmonary physical therapy, your first appointment will likely involve a discussion with the therapist about your medical history and current condition. The therapist will also do a physical examination to determine where there might be weaknesses in the muscles around your heart and lungs.
During this appointment, you can expect to go through some simple breathing exercises so that the therapist can assess how well you are able to breathe normally. They may also ask you about any injuries or surgeries that may have affected your cardiovascular or pulmonary function.
After the initial assessment, the therapist will work with you to create a treatment plan that is tailored specifically to your needs. This may involve a combination of exercises, stretches, and breathing techniques that you can do at home or in the clinic. Depending on your condition, you may also need to see a specialist such as a cardiologist or a radiologist for further testing.
Pulmonary Physical Therapy Goals
If you are recovering from surgery, the physical therapist will likely focus on helping to strengthen your muscles and improve blood flow throughout your body. This can help reduce pain symptoms as well as speed up recovery time so that you feel better sooner after surgery. For example, if you had heart surgery, the therapist will work to improve your breathing and strengthen your chest muscles. This can help reduce shortness of breath after only a few weeks.
Another goal of pulmonary physical therapy is to teach people with chronic conditions how to breathe more easily so that they feel less tired and stressed during the day. The therapist might also show you how to use breathing techniques that can help control chronic pain.
Finally, pulmonary physical therapy may also include education about good nutrition and ways to manage stress so that you are less likely to have flare-ups in your condition. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an important part of managing a lung disease like COPD or asthma because it helps strengthen the lungs over time.
Finding a Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapist
If you are looking for a physical therapist who specializes in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation, ask your doctor for a referral. You can also use the location-specific tool on Rehab.com to locate a therapist in your area.
Remember, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy can dramatically improve your quality of life by strengthening your heart and lungs and teaching you how to breathe more easily. If you have any history of heart or lung problems, it is important to consult with your doctor about physical therapy.
