New guidelines ensure safe home exercise for LAM, a rare lung disease

A new study addresses a critical need for guidance on safely managing exercise in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare interstitial lung disease. Published in Chest, a journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, the study outlines expert recommendations for screening patients before they begin unsupervised, home-based exercise programs. The study is led by Claire Child, DPT, MPH, a PhD Candidate in the PhD in Rehabilitation Science program. This study is part of Child’s research for her PhD dissertation in the laboratory of Associate Professor Mary Beth Brown, PT, PhD, in the Department’s Division of Physical Therapy. 

People with interstitial lung diseases like LAM have additional risks during exercise. Traditionally, they have been referred to supervised pulmonary rehabilitation programs to ensure that medical help is nearby if needed during exercise. However, these programs are not always accessible or preferred by patients. The research team of Child and Brown, and including UW Medicine pulmonologist Dr. Lawrence Ho, developed a consensus tool to help healthcare providers determine if patients can safely engage in unsupervised exercise at home.

The investigators gathered input from a multidisciplinary panel of experts from around the world using a modified Delphi study method to determine consensus and create these guidelines. This work marks a significant step forward in ensuring that patients with LAM can access safe and effective exercise options outside of clinical settings.