PULMONARY REHABILITATION

Pulmonary rehabilitation includes patient education, exercise training, psychosocial support and advice on nutrition. Pulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to improve exercise capacity, reduce breathlessness, improve health-related quality of life, and decrease healthcare utilisation.The majority of patients considered for pulmonary rehabilitation programmes will have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary rehabilitation should be offered to all patients who consider themselves functionally disabled by COPD.

The rehabilitation process incorporates a programme of physical training, disease education, nutritional assessment and advice, and psychological, social, and behavioural intervention.
Rehabilitation is provided by a multiprofessional team, with involvement of the patient's family and attention to individual needs.

Respiratory rehabilitation is effective in helping to relieve dyspnoea and improve control of COPD.
Pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD has also been shown to relieve fatigue, improve emotional function and enhance patients' sense of control over their condition.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program to people with chronic lung diseases like COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis lead full, satisfying lives and restore them to their highest functional capacity. Pulmonary rehab is aimed to improve quality of life by:

Decreasing respiratory symptoms and complications

Encouraging self-management and control over daily functioning
Improving physical conditioning and exercise performance
Improving emotional well-being
Reducing hospitalizations


Progressive exercise training which;
reverse deconditioning effects of inactivity, improve efficiency of peripheral oxygen extraction, improve oxygen distribution, improve coordination, muscle strengthening.

Increase confidence/ reduce anxiety via education (coping strategies medications, smoking reduction), social support

Sputum clearance (education, monitoring or assistance)