By Anna Horner | News & Views
AACVPR’s 38th Annual Meeting, taking place September 13-15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will provide the perfect opportunity to attend a highly requested session on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) exercise training hosted by Kim Eppen, PT, PhD, FAACVPR. The Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Iowa notes that the foundation of PR is exercise training, and optimizing patient outcomes means ensuring PR clinicians have the knowledge and skills to implement this intervention.
The session will detail current evidence-based basic exercise testing, prescription and training principles and guidelines for PR. Attendees will be given examples on how to apply these principles and guidelines to a diverse group of patients, as well as resources they can use directly in their clinical practice. Eppen will take a “hands-on” and case-based learning approach to applying exercise prescription principles. Both new and experienced clinicians will benefit from the session, with “something for everyone,” she says.
“I’ve presented talks on exercise testing and prescription for PR in past years at AACVPR and state affiliate meetings, and the topic has been well-received by members,” Eppen notes. “It has been several years since this topic has been presented, and I have been contacted by many members over the past few years requesting a session on the topic again.”
Attendees will learn about exercise-related limitations and what causes them in individuals with pulmonary conditions, as well as evidence-based guidelines and recommendations for guiding traditional PR exercise testing, prescription and training. They also will gain an understanding of the potential benefits from exercise training in pulmonary patients and how to optimize outcomes. “This session will be important for those who want to learn about basic exercise testing, prescription and training principles and their clinical application in the context of PR,” explains Eppen.
Eppen encourages members to attend the Annual Meeting, not only for the sessions but for the opportunity to “see friends and colleagues, meet new people and network, and share and learn from others in the field.” She says, “People come to the meetings with passion for what they do and the energy and desire to learn about PR and how to best serve their patients. It’s always a pleasure and privilege to be invited to the AACVPR meetings and share, but most importantly, to learn from others in the field, which is one of the things I’m looking forward to the most. I always leave the meetings with a rejuvenated spirit, energized by the people involved and commitment to wanting to serve others in the field. Whether you’re new to the field or experienced, the annual meeting provides a great diversity of current, relevant continuing education opportunities for everyone!”
Register for AACVPR’s 38th Annual Meeting here.