Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation - Hospital Kloster Grafschaft Schmallenberg

About the Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Hospital Kloster Grafschaft Schmallenberg

The Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation at the Hospital Kloster Grafschaft Schmallenberg offers the full range of rehabilitation measures for the patients who have suffered severe respiratory diseases, as well as for the patients after long-term mechanical ventilation. The department's specialists always recommend undergoing rehabilitation treatment immediately after the basic therapy course, which allows achieving the best results and providing the patient with a decent quality of life. The department is headed by PD Dr. med. Dominic Dellweg.

The doctors of the medical facility prefer an individual approach to each patient, and therefore a pulmonary rehabilitation program is developed individually, taking into account the particular diagnosis, the overall health status of the patient, his age and other important factors. The health of the patient is in the safe hands of a highly professional interdisciplinary team, which includes therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, specially trained nursing staff and other specialists. Whenever required, psychologists, psychotherapists, neurologists and surgeons can also be involved in the treatment process.

When planning rehabilitation treatment, the medical team strives to achieve particular goals at the end of the program. As a rule, the goals of pulmonary rehabilitation include improving physical condition and endurance, eliminating shortness of breath, restoring work capacity, as well as eliminating depression and anxiety. Prior to appointing a complex of rehabilitation procedures and determining its intensity, the team of the department's doctors carries out diagnostics, which makes it possible to assess the patient's rehabilitation potential – the initial tolerance to physical activities. The classic diagnostic examinations during the preparation for pulmonary rehabilitation include study of medical history and general clinical examination, laboratory tests, spirometry, pulse oximetry, body plethysmography, echocardiography, assessment of respiratory muscle strength, assessment of physical abilities using an increasing load (treadmill or bicycle ergometer testing), 6-minute walk test and other examinations. With the necessary diagnostic data, doctors begin rehabilitation.

A pulmonary rehabilitation program usually includes such methods as therapeutic exercises, training on fitness equipment (treadmill, exercise bike, gym machines for weight lifting), diet therapy, breathing exercises, psychological support and relaxation training. The rehabilitation also involves drug therapy in order to eliminate shortness of breath and normalize respiratory function. The intensity of training and its frequency are determined depending on the patient's rehabilitation potential. During the entire course of pulmonary rehabilitation, the patient is under the constant supervision of experienced doctors.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is indicated for such diseases and pathological conditions:

• Patients who were on mechanical ventilation for a long time
• Patients after chronic lung diseases and those who have difficulty with daily activities (for example, walking, climbing stairs, taking shower)
• Patients with shortness of breath who have difficulty with common daily activities
• Patients after hospitalization for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Patients with other respiratory diseases who have difficulty with daily activities

The department's therapeutic options include:

• Therapeutic exercises 
• Training on fitness equipment (treadmill, exercise bike, gym machines for weight lifting
• Diet correction
• Breathing exercises
• Psychological support
• Relaxation training
• Drug therapy (for example, to relieve shortness of breath)
• Other medical services