Cardiac & Pulmonary Endurance Training

Cardiac & Pulmonary Endurance Training at UVM Health

Shortness of breath interferes with your ability to exercise and stay active. Cardiac and pulmonary endurance training can help increase your fitness so you can get back to your favorite activities.

At University of Vermont Health, our trained rehabilitation therapists design effective treatment plans that improve your endurance by helping you tolerate longer periods of activity.

Two patients exercise on treadmills while a medical provider helps them.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the region’s leading rehabilitation programs, we offer:

Access to care: We offer rehabilitation services in multiple locations throughout Vermont and northern New York. No matter where you live, you have easy access to expert care.
Personalized treatment: Our therapists create care plans tailored to your needs and goals. We help you improve your overall function and endurance with programs that are easy to participate in.
Specialized skills: Our team includes therapists with unique experience in cardiac and pulmonary training. We commit to high-quality treatment, continually bringing you the latest techniques and tools.

Conditions We Treat

We offer cardiopulmonary endurance training for multiple conditions. We may treat respiratory conditions such as:

Asthma: A chronic condition that causes airway inflammation and narrowing
Bronchiectasis: A condition that occurs when the tubes transporting air in and out of your lungs become damaged
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A group of diseases that cause difficulty breathing
Cystic fibrosis: A genetic disease that damages your lungs and digestive tract
Emphysema: A lung condition that damages the small air sacs in the lungs (alveoli)
Interstitial lung disease: A group of diseases that cause lung tissue scarring that worsens over time
Pulmonary fibrosis: Lung scarring that causes difficulty breathing
Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the blood vessels carrying blood to your lungs

Training may also be appropriate for patients with cardiac conditions such as:

Coronary artery disease: Plaque build-up and narrowing in the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart
Heart attack: A sudden, emergency blockage of blood flow to your heart
Heart failure: When your heart doesn’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s demands
Post-surgical needs: Those who have had heart surgeries such as coronary artery bypass, angioplasty and stenting, or a heart valve replacement

Other conditions we treat include:

Cancer: A disease in which irregular cells grow and destroy your body tissues
Conditions related to COVID-19: Including ongoing chest pain and shortness of breath
General deconditioning: A lack of physical activity that leads to muscle and bone breakdown
Peripheral artery disease: Plaque build-up and narrowing in the blood vessels carrying blood to your lower limbs
Sarcoidosis: A condition causing inflammatory growths in your lung, heart, lymph nodes, skin or other parts of your body

What to Expect

Your training sessions will include exercises appropriate for your abilities. You will work with a therapist who will help you improve your flexibility, strength and cardiovascular function. Your treatment may include: