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About Us

1. Location:

The healthy lungs rehabilitation centre is located in the heart of the city, within the premises of Kasturba Hospital, easily accessible via both the central (Chinchpokli) and western (Mahalaxmi) suburban rail networks. It is cut off from the hustle and bustle and pollution of Mumbai. The lush green surroundings and quiet ambience provide an ideal set up for Rehabilitation.

2. Facilities:

• Equipment - State-of-the-art gym equipped with two high speed treadmills, a Cycle ergometer, Multi gym for weight training, free weights, aerobic stepper, 3 O2 concentrators, Cardioscope apparatus, Nebulisers, Pulse oximeters

• Physiotherapy - A fully equipped physiotherapy department to tackle any concurrent musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis, back pain etc.

• Individualised Attention - One-on-one supervision during the rehab program by highly qualified physiotherapists and pulmonary rehab specialists.

• Parking - There is ample free parking space available at the centre.

• Miscellaneous - Lockers and changing room.

3. History-

The need for Pulmonary Rehabilitation and its ensuing benefits has been greatly ignored in a country like India, which has a very high incidence of lung-related diseases. It has repeatedly been proven through multiple clinical trials that respiratory patients undergoing medical treatment augmented with Pulmonary Rehabilitation show a higher level of improvement in their medical status as well as quality of life, as opposed to those solely on conventional medical therapy. In fact, statistics have also proven that earlier the intervention of Pulmonary Rehabilitation during the disease process, the lesser will be the impact of disease on quality of life. A number of western countries adopting this approach have yielded productive results in the management of respiratory disorders. In a crowded, polluted city like Mumbai, the stark lack of this kind of facility gives little or no hope to patients…

Thus was born Healthy Lungs, an initiative undertaken by Indian Institute of Environmental Medicine and Lupin Pharmaceuticals under the watchful guidance of Dr. Rohini Chowgule, Head of Dept. of Chest Medicine, Bombay Hospital. The first of its kind in the city, the inception of Healthy Lungs in June 2009 at the Indian Institute of Environmental Medicine, Kasturba Hospital now adds to changing the outlook of Pulmonary Medicine in India.

4. Goals:

• To rehabilitate patients with chronic respiratory disorders like COPD, ILD and destroyed lungs to help improve their quality of life.

• To use a multidimensional approach involving improvements in- musculo-skeletal function and cardiovascular capacity. Chest physiotherapy, nutritional guidance and psychological counseling are also rendered.

• To generate empirical and clinical data with regards to optimal approach for pulmonary rehabilitation in patients.

• To provide a forum for group interactions between patients and their families to help increase awareness among those affected and their care givers.

• To give chest physicians another ‘proven’ option towards the best possible care for their patients.

• To increase awareness among general physicians and the populous as a whole with regards to the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation.

 5. Research:

• Rehabilitation protocols for Interstitial Lung disease: There is a lack of actual clinical data on rehabilitation protocols in patients with Pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. A randomized study is being conducted to assess the effectiveness of rehab protocols in current use.

• Development of protocols for ILD: Protocols for rehab in ILD patients are being assessed in studies at the centre to identify an optimal approach.

• Comparison of outcome measures post pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD and ILD: A study designed to compare the improvements seen post rehab in patients with COPD and ILD.

 6. Services Offered:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation:

  • - A 12 week program consisting of Initial assessment, cardiovascular exercises, strength training, chest physiotherapy and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

  • - Included are 2 follow up sessions and a home program.

  • - Recommended for all patients.

  • - The patients current and past history along with all the tests conducted are noted.

  • - A lung function test is done if the patient has not had a test in the last 6 months.

  • - The patient is trained 3 times a week for the 12 weeks- 36 sessions in total.

  • - The improvements in physical capacity are assessed regularly.

  • - At the end of the 36 sessions a home program is charted out consisting of maintenance exercises.

  • - The patient is called for a follow up 6 weeks and 12 weeks post conclusion of the rehab program.

• Home program: Includes initial assessment and a home program. Recommended for patients who stay afar and cannot come to the institute on a regular basis. The success of this rehab approach depends on the patient’s ability to follow the recommended protocol at home.

• Chest Physiotherapy: The patients are treated with chest physiotherapy to help remove the trapped secretions in their lungs. They are taught breathing exercises and self drainage to help maintain good lung care.

• Inhaler technique: Patients are taught proper inhaler technique to optimize the effectiveness of prescribed inhalers.

 		 
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Indian Institute of Environmental Medicine, Ward 12, Kasturba Hospital, Sane Guruji Marg, Mumbai-11
IIEM