[Pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Presse Med. 2009 Mar;38(3):452-61. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2008.12.004. Epub 2009 Jan 14.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary and structured intervention for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to reduce symptoms, improve exercise tolerance, ameliorate psychosocial problems, improve health-related quality of life and reduce health care utilization. The pulmonary rehabilitation program consists in an exercise training program, an education program, a nutritional support, and a psychosocial support. Exercise training represents the cornerstone of every pulmonary rehabilitation program. A supervised training based on 30-45 min duration session of high intensity exercise 3 to 5 days/week during at least 20 sessions is recommended. The pulmonary rehabilitation program represents actually the most appropriate and most efficient way for the management of COPD patients. The beneficial effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise tolerance, muscle strength, symptoms, quality of life are now well recognized.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Exercise
  • Humans
  • Lung / physiopathology*
  • Psychology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / psychology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / rehabilitation*
  • Respiratory Function Tests*
  • Respiratory Muscles / physiopathology*
  • Social Support