Background information
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death and disease burden1. Data show that one in five Australians over 40 is affected by COPD2. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data show that COPD is the second cause of avoidable hospital admissions3. Self-management programs for COPD, and in particular, pulmonary rehabilitation, have been shown to reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life4. Australian research shows a 46% reduction of patients admitted to hospital with COPD exacerbation and a 62% reduction total bed days following pulmonary rehabilitation5. Currently, there is a significant shortfall of community-based maintenance programs. The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation can decline over a 6-12 month period on cessation of a supervised pulmonary program, unless active maintenance exercise program is available in the community6.
Aim
The AIM of Lungs in Action is to extend the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation by maintaining physical and social activities. Lungs in Action is a safe, low cost exercise maintenance program in the community for people who have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program. With only 42 exercise maintenance programs identified by The Australian Lung Foundation in Australia, there was a need to develop a sustainable model for community programs that can be rolled out nationally and fill this service gap. In order to achieve this, The Australian Lung Foundation designed and is currently piloting Lungs in Action in Cairns and Gold Coast.
Lungs in Action classes are being delivered by qualified Fitness Instructors who meet specific credentialing criteria and who have successfully completed Lungs in Action training. Trained instructors will bring Lungs in Action to their community and provide classes in local facilities such as community halls, fitness studios, gyms etc. Clients can be referred to Lungs in Action by pulmonary rehabilitation program leaders. Lungs in Action is part of the continuum of care and referring clinicians will have the opportunity to observe their clients during class and follow up on their progress.
Key components
The key components of Lungs in Action training include:
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What is COPD?
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What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
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Importance of exercise in COPD
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Limitations of exercise in COPD
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Managing breathlessness
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Developing and implementing a tailored exercise program
Development
Development of Lungs in Action training materials was undertaken in consultation with respiratory physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and personal trainers in Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney and Brisbane.
Delivery of the program is being PILOTED in Cairns and the Gold Coast with the program being REFINED through feedback from participants, a steering committee, an expert advisory panel and external reviewers. Lungs in Action will be EVALUATED based on quality of life, exercise capacity, client experience, instructor feedback, monitoring of participant exacerbations and hospital admissions and general awareness of benefits of exercise.
Timeline
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May 2009
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Fitness Instructors trained
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July 2009 - Jan 2010
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Lungs in Action classes delivered
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January 2010
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Final report
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Mid 2010
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Training Program available nationally
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If you have completed Pulmonary Rehabilitation or would like more information regarding your local Lungs in Action class, you can contact one of the Lungs in Action instructors below.
Lungs in Action classes are available in the following locations:
Gold Coast: E.P.T - Elizabeth Harper Personal Training http://www.ept.net.au/
Gold Coast: E.P.T - Elizabeth Harper Personal Training
Instructor: Liz Harper
Mondays 11:30am
Marj Shipman Community Hall
119 Hansford Rd
Coombabah Q 4216
Phone Liz Harper: 0419 713 104
Or click here to be taken to Liz Harper's contact page to email a message.
Cairns: Instructors: Sue Rayner and Kelly Sinclair
Tuesdays 3pm
Rydges Esplanade Lifestyle, Health and Fitness Centre
Cnr Kerwin and Lake Street
Cairns Q
Contact: Sue Rayner 0407 967 975 or CAPERS Pulmonary Rehabilitation Physiotherapist Trent Young (07) 404 68590
(The Australian Lung Foundation would like to thank Ross McKeown and Rydges Esplanade Lifestyle, Health and Fitness Centre for providing access to their facilities in Cairns. The Australian Lung Foundation would also like to thank the Gold Coast City Council's Active and Healthy program for providing the Marj Shipman Community Hall for Lungs in Action classes.)
Further information
Contact the Project Coordinator- Lungs in Action for further information.
Resources
 Lungs in Action Poster 987.08 Kb
1. AIHW. Chronic Diseases Mortality. Found at: http://aihw.gov.au/cdarf/data_pages/mortality/index.cfm
2. Buist AS, McBurnie MA, Vollmer WM et al. International variation in the prevalence of COPD (The BOLD Study): a population-based prevalence study. Lancet, 1 September; 370:741-750
3. Page A, Ambrose S, Glover J et al. Atlas of Avoidable Hospitalizations in Australian: ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. Adelaide PHIDU. University of Adelaide. 2007
4. David K McKensie, Michael Abramson, Alan J Crockett, Nicholas Glasgow, Sue Jenkins, Christine McDonald, Richard Wood-Baker, Peter A Frith. The COPD-X Plan: Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2007. The Australian Lung Foundation.
5. Cecins N, Geelhoed E, Jenkins S. Reduction in hospitalization following pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD, Australian Health Review, August 2008 Vol 32 No 3 415-422
6. Cockram J, Cecins N, Jenkins S. Maintaining exercise capacity and quality of life following pulmonary rehabilitation. Respirology (2006) 11, 98-104
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Lung and Respiratory Conditions 
