the essential
In Auch, the regional association Occitan’air supports patients suffering from respiratory diseases with weekly sessions of adapted sports. A program that aims to strengthen their physical, mental and social capacities. Explanations.
In the Garros district, several people meet once a week for a sports session. What do they have in common? They all suffer from respiratory diseases such as: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, emphysema, fibrosis, hyperventilation, long covid, lung cancer, etc.
At the initiative of this, the Occitan’air association has been supporting patients for several years around a “respiratory rehabilitation” plan.
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In Auch, it offers a range of personalized care, provided by health professionals, aimed at strengthening the physical, mental and social capacities of patients. All of this is supervised by trained physical activity professionals, called “adapted physical activity teachers” (EAPA). Established throughout the region, the association set up in Auch a few years ago.
“These are people who have a pathology and who, despite pulmonological treatments, remain out of breath. Behind this, there is a lack of activity which causes muscular atrophy. The more the muscles are atrophied, the more people have difficulty carrying out daily activities.” – Fabrice Semerle, referent for the association.
This situation can often lead to isolation and a sedentary lifestyle. “We enter into what is called a vicious circle of deconditioning.”
This is where Occitan’air comes in. Created in 2003 by pulmonologist Daniel Bajon and Yann Darolles and based in Auch since 2017, the association supports people who wish to do so by offering them a three-month home respiratory rehabilitation program.
A lack of pulmonologists in Gers
For two hours each week, an adapted physical activity teacher (EAPA) offers several activities (endurance, muscle strengthening, motor skills, etc.), “all with the aim of maintaining physical capacity and continuing to carry out daily activities”. Of course, these sessions are not enough on their own, and patients are encouraged to walk regularly, while receiving adapted recommendations.
“There is a major shortage of pulmonologists in Gers, and patients do not know that these programs exist. The only solution for them is drug treatments, while regular physical activity can improve their respiratory capacity and give them advice on breathing management,” assures Fabrice Semerle.
Beyond the activities, the association offers real support with assessments and monitoring. But also therapeutic education days that allow patients to better understand their pathology. They can thus meet caregivers, physiotherapists, pulmonologists, psychologists or even nutritionists.
Adapted group sport
Once a week, they can also join a group program with therapeutic education workshops. This program is organized from September to July each year, always supervised by an EAPA. In the Gers, in Auch, Élise is part of it. A smoker for nearly forty years and aged around sixty, she discovered the association in 2017 through word of mouth.
“You know, back then, if you didn’t smoke, you weren’t fashionable. I started in high school, I was 20,” confides the Gersoise. Today, she experiences some breathing difficulties. So, she decided to join Occitan’air and take matters into her own hands. “When I want to run, it’s complicated. But there are days that are harder than others.” Two hours a week, on Thursday afternoons, is the perfect opportunity to go out and meet up with friends.
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“We do squats, sprints, balance, memory games, we walk when the weather is nice. We are also regularly tested for saturation,” says the sixty-year-old. Since joining the association, thanks to her diligence and unfailing determination, she says: “Yes, things are much better today.” Like her, Jean-Louis testifies: “Since the creation of this activity, I have noticed an improvement in my breathing management.”
If sport prevents chronic diseases, it also contributes more than ever to the treatment of a very large number of long-term conditions. “It is not because you have a respiratory disease that you can’t do anything,” concludes Fabrice Semerle.
