Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physiotherapy: What It Is and What to Expect
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor provides Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physiotherapy?
A physical therapist, an expert in exercise and movement, usually provides this care. A cardiologist, a heart doctor, or a pulmonologist, a doctor who treats lung disease, may also be involved. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What it is
Cardiac rehabilitation is a program that helps you live better with heart disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised medical program that helps people who have lung diseases live and breathe better.
The sections below cover cardiac rehab programs, lung rehab programs, and physical therapy for COPD.
A physical therapy guide for COPD says physical therapists help people with COPD improve their symptoms. They also help restore strength in the breathing muscles. COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a lung condition with long-lasting breathing symptoms.
Why a doctor might recommend it
Heart rehab is often prescribed after a heart attack, heart surgery, or other procedures. It is also used for heart failure. It can also help people with angina (chest pain) or a heart transplant.
Your doctor may recommend lung rehab for conditions such as COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and cystic fibrosis. Lung rehab can help you gain strength and ease anxiety or depression. It can make daily activities easier.
How to prepare
Before you start, the rehab team will check your overall health.
- A provider will do an exam and may ask about your health history.
- For lung rehab, breathing tests check how well your lungs are working.
- A six-minute walk test measures how far you can walk in six minutes.
- For COPD, a physical therapist reviews your health history and any lung test results from your doctor.
What happens during it
A heart rehab team may include heart doctors, nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, and exercise experts. At first, the team watches your heart while you exercise. You start slowly and build up over time. Heart rehab also covers healthy eating, ways to stay healthy such as quitting smoking, and help coping with anxiety or depression.
Lung rehab may happen in a hospital or clinic. You may also learn exercises to do at home. Exercise training aims to strengthen your back, arms, legs, and the muscles you use to breathe. You may learn breathing techniques to control your breathing. You may also learn ways to clear mucus from your lungs. Classes can cover how the lungs work, how to take your medicines, and how to spot a flare-up early.
For COPD, a physical therapist can help you train your breathing muscles. This can reduce shortness of breath.
Recovery
Most heart rehab programs last 3 to 6 months. Yours may be longer or shorter. Lung rehab is usually 2 or 3 sessions each week, for several weeks or months. At the end of lung rehab, your team repeats tests to see if your breathing has improved.
Risks and side effects
The risks listed here are for lung rehab. Lung rehab has few risks. In rare cases, exercise in the program can cause problems, such as muscle and bone injuries. If serious problems happen, the team stops the activity right away, gives treatment, and contacts your doctor.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for chest pain lasting two minutes or more, trouble breathing, or fainting.
Who performs it
Physical therapists are part of a heart rehab team. The team may also include heart doctors and nurses. A COPD guide calls physical therapists movement experts. It says they are an important part of your health care team.
Common questions
How long does this kind of rehab last?
Most heart rehab programs last from 3 to 6 months. Lung rehab is usually 2 or 3 sessions each week, for several weeks or months.
Can I do this kind of rehab at home?
Sometimes you can. With lung rehab, you may learn exercises to do at home. If you cannot get to a heart rehab center, there may be a home version.
How does a direct primary care or concierge doctor fit in?
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. If your provider does not mention rehab, you can ask if it might help you. Your doctor may recommend lung rehab for certain lung conditions.
Sources
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- MedlinePlus - Cardiac rehabilitation
- American Physical Therapy Association - Physical Therapy Guide to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
