Physiotherapy for Pneumonia in London

What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection that affects the lungs, causing inflammation in the small air sacs (called alveoli) that help you breathe. These air sacs can fill with fluid, making it harder for oxygen to move throughout your body. That’s why pneumonia often leaves you feeling short of breath, unusually tired, or makes simple tasks take a lot more effort than usual.

While rest is very important in the early stages, staying still for too long (especially after a hospital stay) can actually slow down the recovery process. Your muscles weaken, your breathing can become shallower, and it’s easier to feel unsteady on your feet. That’s where physiotherapy can make a real difference.

At Physit, we assist with your recovery by helping you gently restore your breathing, ease any lingering chest tightness, and rebuild the strength and stamina you need for everyday movement. We work with you in your own home, so you feel safe and supported while gaining back your energy and your confidence.

With the right kind of care, pneumonia recovery doesn’t just mean “getting through it,” it means feeling stronger, steadier, and more capable again, with each passing day.

What Can Delay or Complicate Your Recovery?

Pneumonia recovery isn’t always a straight line. Even when the infection is under control, there are certain factors that can slow your progress or make it harder to bounce back. Knowing what might get in the way can help you plan ahead and make small changes that will help keep you moving in the right direction, toward a full recovery.

• Extended time in bed, leading to muscle weakness: Rest is important, but too much time lying down can cause your muscles (especially in your legs and core) to weaken, making everyday movement feel a lot harder than it should.
• Reduced lung expansion and shallow breathing: When you’re feeling unwell, it’s natural to breathe more gently. But shallow breathing can limit your oxygen flow and increase the risk of lingering chest tightness or fluid buildup.
• Pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions: If you’re already managing other conditions like COPD, asthma, or heart disease, pneumonia can take more of a toll on your body and slow down your return to daily routines.
• Anxiety or fear of exertion: After an illness, it’s common to worry about pushing yourself too far. That hesitation can lead to avoiding the very movement that will help speed your recovery along.
• Lack of movement or activity in early recovery: Light activity helps improve your circulation, reduce any stiffness, and keep your lungs working well. Staying too still for too long can lead to setbacks.
• Poor hydration, nutrition, or lack of support at home: Your body needs energy and hydration to heal, and having support at home can make a big difference in how confident and comfortable you feel as you recover. Not everyone has a partner or child to take care of them, but in-home support can take many forms. Physit is a great example of that.

How Physit Can Help

Recovering from pneumonia takes more than rest. It takes the right kind of movement, done safely and at the right pace. At Physit, we help you breathe more comfortably, move more confidently, and rebuild the energy you need for everyday life.

Our approach is gentle, fully customised to your unique situation, and focused on steady progress. We don’t push you through the discomfort; we help support your recovery in ways that feel manageable, meaningful, and impactful.

Here’s a look at what your treatment may include.

• Breathing exercises: Guided breathing techniques help improve lung capacity, clear mucus, and reduce that tight or breathless feeling that often lingers after pneumonia.
• Airway clearance techniques: We use safe, simple methods to help loosen chest congestion and make breathing easier, especially if coughing is still an issue.
• Gentle mobility and walking support: Even short walks can make a big difference. We’ll help you move safely to restore your circulation, reduce stiffness, and gradually build up your stamina.
• Strengthening and postural work: After time in bed, the muscles that help you stand tall and move steadily can lose their strength. We focus on restoring that foundation, especially in your legs, back, and core.
• Energy pacing and fatigue management: Sometimes, recovery can feel like two steps forward, one step back. We help you listen to your body, balance rest with movement, and avoid doing too much too soon.
• Education for long-term lung health and home routines: We’ll guide you through helpful breathing habits, hydration tips, and safe ways to stay active, so that you can keep improving even between sessions.
• Progress tracking that grows with you: As your strength returns, we adjust your plan to match your goals, whether it’s getting to the garden, walking to the kitchen with confidence, or returning to full independence.

With Physit, you get so much more than a recovery plan. You get personalised care that meets you where you are. We help you breathe easier, move more comfortably, and feel fully supported in your day-to-day life, every step of the way.