Living with a lung condition
PR may be suitable for some people with COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis or interstitial lung disease, including pulmonary fibrosis.
Learn about
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Explore who pulmonary rehabilitation can help, what a program involves and its potential benefits. Learn about in-person and virtual options, and how to keep building on your progress after graduation.
Begin with the basics
The essentials
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
Pulmonary rehabilitation, often called pulmonary rehab or PR, is a program of exercise, education and self-management support for people living with lung conditions. A healthcare professional can assess your needs, abilities and goals to help decide whether it may be suitable.
PR is not a cure for lung disease. It helps people work toward the things that matter to them, from walking with more confidence to managing household tasks or spending time with family. Your program should reflect your health and what you want to be able to do.
It starts with a conversation. Your healthcare provider can discuss your health, goals, safety and the options available to you.
Who is it for?
There is no single path for every lung condition.
If breathlessness, fatigue or reduced stamina make everyday life harder, ask your healthcare provider whether PR could help. An assessment helps determine the right support for you.
Around some procedures
It may also be considered for selected people before or after lung surgery or a lung transplant.
A diagnosis does not automatically mean PR is suitable. Your provider can help assess your circumstances and explain local referral options.
Finding a program
Start with the care options near you.
Access can look different depending on your location, health needs and what services are available.
Hospital or in-person care
Programs may be offered through a hospital outpatient service, clinic or community setting. Ask your healthcare provider whether a referral is needed and what is available locally.
Virtual or hybrid care
Some hospitals offer virtual or hybrid PR. Other virtual programs may also be available if attending in person is difficult. The Rehab Portal is one home-based option for people cleared to exercise unsupervised, with no referral required.
See how The Rehab Portal worksTravel, distance and scheduling can make regular attendance difficult. If this is your situation, ask about a virtual option. The level of supervision and support varies, so check what is included and whether it meets your needs.
What PR can involve
Movement, learning and skills for daily life.
Your plan should reflect your assessment and goals. The exact activities and support vary by program.
01
Exercise, at your pace
A plan can include supervised or guided activity to build strength and stamina, adapted to your abilities and individual assessment.
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A program team can discuss your starting point, goals and any concerns before activity begins. The approach and level of supervision depend on your assessment and the services available.
02
Breathing skills
Learn techniques and ways to manage energy and everyday tasks when breathlessness gets in the way.
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You may explore breathing strategies, pacing and ways to plan daily activities. A clinician can help you decide which approaches are appropriate for you.
03
Education
Understand your lung condition and explore practical ways to manage it, with information shaped around your needs.
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Education may cover understanding your condition, recognizing when to ask for help and preparing questions for your care team. Topics vary with your needs and program.
04
Whole-person support
Depending on the program, support may include nutrition guidance, help with emotional wellbeing and ways to build confidence.
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Some programs connect participants with additional support, such as nutrition or emotional wellbeing resources. Ask what is included and whether there are other services you can access.
Follow your care team's advice about exercise, inhalers and oxygen, and use your individual plan.
Why people consider PR
Small steps can matter in everyday life.
PR can improve exercise capacity, build strength and stamina, and help reduce breathlessness during activity. That can make everyday tasks, outings and the activities you enjoy feel more manageable.
Education and self-management support can build confidence in living with your condition. PR may also reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression and improve quality of life. Benefits vary, and PR works alongside your ongoing medical care rather than replacing it.
After a program ends
Graduation is a beginning, not the end of the routine.
The end of a structured PR program does not mean the end of looking after your lung health. Continuing exercise and self-management habits is important for maintaining the progress you have made. Without an ongoing routine, improvements can fade over time.
A maintenance program offers structure for staying active, revisiting what you have learned and keeping health routines part of daily life. Before you graduate, ask your care team about a plan you can sustain at home, in the community or through a virtual program, and how to adapt it if your health changes. The Rehab Portal can provide structure for a home routine after in-person PR.
Not sure where to start?
Ask your healthcare provider:
- Could pulmonary rehabilitation help me?
- What in-person or virtual options fit my needs?
- What level of exercise supervision do I need?
Pulmonary rehab with The Rehab Portal
A flexible way to keep moving forward.
Build a routine that fits your life. The Rehab Portal brings exercise, education and self-management support together in a virtual pulmonary rehabilitation program tailored to your abilities and goals. Whether you need an alternative to regular in-person visits, extra support between sessions, or a way to keep going after graduation, access your program through the app or on the web.
No referral is needed. The program is for people cleared by their healthcare provider to exercise unsupervised. Exercise is self-guided; it is not live monitored.
See how The Rehab Portal worksFor healthcare organizations
Extend rehabilitation support beyond the practice.
The Rehab Portal can help organizations offer virtual PR and ongoing self-management resources at home, alongside existing services or as part of a maintenance pathway.
For patients enrolled through your organization, your practitioners can assign activities, review progress and receive relevant notifications from daily check-ins. This gives your team context between visits while keeping follow-up within your service's workflow.
Explore the organization offeringFurther reading
Learn from trusted health resources.
This page is general education, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ask your healthcare provider before starting or changing exercise, oxygen or medication routines. For a medical emergency, contact local emergency services.