STADS Physiotherapy
Pulmonary physiotherapy for COPD and other lung conditions
Specialist in treating COPD, asthma, Covid-19 and hyperventilation Work together towards an active lifestyle Stay independent for as long as possible and prevent decline
or call 040 – 311 1151 / 013 – 303 0361
No referral neededSeen within 48 hoursContracts with all health insurers
You breathe without thinking
Ten to twenty times a minute, the most normal thing in the world. Until it no longer comes naturally. Only then do you notice how much of your day depends on it.
For which conditions?
- COPD
- asthma
- Long Covid and symptoms after pneumonia
- hyperventilation and a disrupted breathing pattern
- difficulty coughing up mucus
- shortness of breath for which no explanation has been found
What is COPD?
COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It’s a chronic lung disease in which your lungs are permanently damaged, making breathing harder work — especially during exertion. The best-known symptoms are shortness of breath, fatigue and declining fitness.
You notice it mostly in ordinary things: climbing stairs, going for a walk, carrying shopping. That’s exactly what we focus on. The lung damage itself doesn’t go away, but what you can do with your lungs can often be improved considerably.
What does the pulmonary physiotherapist do?
We look at how you breathe, how much you can handle, and where things go wrong in your day. Then we train your fitness and muscle strength, teach you coughing and breathing techniques, and work on the mobility of your trunk.
With a chronic lung condition, the goal is usually not to cure but to maintain: staying independent for as long as possible and preventing decline.
Why fitness makes such a difference
When you’re short of breath, the reflex is to do less. Understandable, but it backfires: your fitness drops, so the same stairs take more effort, so you do even less.
Breaking that spiral is the most important thing we do. Often the gain isn’t that your lungs get better, but that you can do more with the same lungs.
Together with your doctor
Physiotherapy comes on top of your medication and never replaces it. We coordinate with your GP, lung specialist or practice nurse, especially if your medication changes or your symptoms get worse.
What is COPD?
COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD involves chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Bronchitis is an inflammatory reaction of the airways in which more mucus is produced. The mucus narrows the airways, making breathing difficult. In emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs are broken or damaged. This makes the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs less effective.
People with COPD may experience:
- breathlessness and shortness of breath;
- coughing and coughing up mucus;
- fatigue, partly because sleep is worse;
- declining fitness and muscle strength;
- a change in mood, such as feeling depressed;
What causes COPD?
In more than 80% of cases, smoking is the main cause of COPD. Exposure to other harmful gases or substances (particulate matter, smoke, chemical fumes, etc.) can also contribute to developing COPD. The chance of getting COPD is partly hereditary.
What is a lung attack?
In a lung attack, also called an exacerbation, respiratory symptoms suddenly get worse. This is usually the result of a respiratory infection. Symptoms of a lung attack are:
- Waking up at night because you’re short of breath
- Coughing more, especially in the morning
- The amount of mucus increases and changes colour
- More and increasing shortness of breath
- No longer being able to speak in full sentences
- Climbing stairs takes more effort
- Needing more breaks during a short walk
- Using a reliever inhaler more often than usual
- More tired
- Less appetite
- Raised temperature / fever
- Panicking or feeling anxious and insecure
- Gradually becoming exhausted and confused
Lung attacks seriously disrupt daily life and lead to a faster decline in lung function.
Physiotherapy for COPD
Physiotherapy consists of an intensive period of guidance focused on:
- training fitness and muscle strength;
- exercises that help you become more active in daily life, and/or;
- exercises to help you breathe better.
During the treatments, we look at how you can stay active after treatment too. 2–3 times a year, you review with the physiotherapist how things are going. After a setback following a lung attack, therapy may be temporarily resumed. Sometimes someone isn’t able to stay active on their own. We can then look at whether long-term guidance is indicated.
Am I insured for physiotherapy for COPD?
Since 2019, physiotherapy has been covered by the basic insurance for patients with moderate airway obstruction or worse (GOLD II). So you don’t need to take out supplementary insurance to be reimbursed. You’re also entitled to reimbursement with an impending COPD lung attack (an exacerbation). Please note: in both cases you need a referral from your GP, medical specialist or nurse specialist in lung diseases to qualify for reimbursement.
For more information, contact your health insurer, or call STADS. We’re happy to help.
Questions first?
Rather talk to someone first?
Not sure if we can help, or have a question about your treatment or reimbursement? Feel free to get in touch.
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