Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to reduce symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue, improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL)[1], and reduce hospital readmissions after an exacerbation[2]. Pulmonary rehabilitation is considered a key component of the management of people with chronic lung disease such as COPD[3] including Asthma COPD overlap. It is also recommended that people with bronchiectasis or Interstitial lung disease undergo pulmonary rehabilitation.[4]

LungSmart Pulmonary Rehabilitation is group-based and provides comprehensive exercise treatment specifically tailored for people with chronic lung disease. Pulmonary Rehabilitation is supervised by our physiotherapists and is designed to operate in line with recommended guidelines. Standard pulmonary rehabilitation comprises of supervised exercise sessions completed twice weekly over an eight- week period. Assessment consultations are completed before and after pulmonary rehabilitation to accurately assess your symptoms using internationally recognised clinical measurements and protocols.

Public funding to support participation in a standard eight (8) week program of pulmonary rehabilitation is available to those meeting clinical criteria, generally once every 12months. Self-funded participation is billed per consultation/session. Private health insurance rebates are processed through HiCAPS. Medicare rebate/s for assessment consultation/s are available only with an eligible Medicare GPMP/TCA (GP Management Plan / Team Care Arrangement) referrals. DVA Health Cards (Gold and White) are accepted as payment for an eligible doctor/GP referral.

[1] McCarthy B, Casey D, Devane D, Murphy K, Murphy E, Lacasse Y. Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015: CD003793.

[2] Puhan MA, GimenoSantos E, Cates CJ, Troosters T. Pulmonary rehabilitation following exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. 2016(12) CD005305.

[3] Yang IA, George J, McDonald CF, McDonald V, O’Brien M, Smith B, McNamara R, Zwar N, Dabscheck E. The COPD-X Plan: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2021. Version 2.64, June 2021.

[4] Alison, J.A., McKeough, Z.J., Johnston, K., McNamara, R.J., Spencer, L.M., Jenkins, S.C., Hill, C.J., McDonald, V.M., Frith, P., Cafarella, P., Brooke, M., Cameron-Tucker, H.L., Candy, S., Cecins, N., Chan, A.S.L., Dale, M., Dowman, L.M., Granger, C., Halloran, S., Jung, P., Lee, A., Leung, R., Matulik, T., Osadnik, C., Roberts, M., Walsh, J., Wootton, S., Holland, A.E. On behalf of the Lung Foundation Australia and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (2017) Australian and New Zealand Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines. Respirology, doi: 10.1111/resp.13025