We aim to help those affected by severe respiratory illness to the road to recovery
Welcome the Lung Rehab Clinic
Our passion is to help you live a normal healthy life
The Lung Rehab Clinic is a first for the Garden Route with the aim to help those affected by severe respiratory illness to the road to recovery and improved quality of life. It is a program of education and exercise that increases awareness about lung disease and helps achieve exercise or movement with less shortness of breath. The program is not exclusive to post COVID-19 lung disease but is also available to patients with emphysema, interstitial lung disease, recovery from severe pneumonia and recovery from chest surgery.
The program is directed by Specialist Physician, Dr Gregori Palkowski and includes a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and a biokineticist. Patients entering the program will spend the majority of their time with biokineticist Jarryd Carter for respiratory muscle training, individualised graded exercises and endurance training.
Post COVID-19 lung rehabilitation
The on-going effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all individuals, more-so those infected with the virus who continue to face respiratory symptoms and low oxygen saturation levels.
Individuals with moderate COVID lung disease would have experienced shortness of breath, lower exercise tolerance, decreased independence in activities of daily living and difficulty re-entering the work environment. In severe cases individuals would have required prolonged hospitalization and likely ventilation or high flow oxygen. The prolonged immobilization from hospitalization can lead to muscle weakness, reduced joint mobility, impaired balance, impaired gait all of which effecting the recovery process. In addition, the use of home oxygen has become a mandatory treatment to help open hospital beds, however this therapy requires on-going monitoring and weaning. Patients leave the hospital bombarded by information, a package of pills, still feeling very frail and not sure where the road of recovery lies. Often the information is not retained due to the overwhelming experience, anxiety, lack of sleep and recovery process then takes place at home.
How can such individuals hope to return a better quality of life sooner? How can individuals hope to gain further insight into their disease? Well, this can be achieved through a lung rehabilitation program.
Our Program Offers:
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
It is a program of education and exercise that increases awareness about lung disease and helps achieve exercise or movement with less shortness of breath. The program is not exclusive to post COVID-19 lung disease but is also available to patients with emphysema, interstitial lung disease, recovery from severe pneumonia and recovery from chest surgery.
Who will benefit?
Any person with a chronic lung disease might benefit from Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Examples of chronic lung conditions include: COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis). Interstitial lung disease (sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis).
What does it involve?
Consultation with specialist physician (rule out DVT, PE, myocarditis), biometric testing such as lung functions, effort ECG, vaccination scheduling. Consultation with biokineticist for respiratory muscle training, individualised graded exercises and endurance training. Consultation with physiotherapist for coughing techniques and positioning techniques. Consultation with occupational therapist
What will it achieve?
Improved quality of life, quicker return to previous baseline, optimizations of additional medical conditions, improved mobility, confidence and faster time to return to work.
COVID Notice
Please do not come to the clinic if you have recently been exposed, have a fever, dry cough or are feeling unwell. Rather stay home. Please call the clinic to set up a telephonic conversation so we can do a risk assessment and plan for testing.
All enquiries about your specific management will be responded to.
Please visit the South African government’s main Covid-19 page for more information about the virus and lockdown:
Go to sacoronavirus.co.za