OBJECTIVES Although patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who adhere to a pulmonary rehabilitation program are better able to manage their illness and experience a better health-related quality of life, pulmonary rehabilitation remains underused. This study aims to describe the experiences of patients who are in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, and explore the perception...

BACKGROUND The impact of short-term preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer is evaluated. METHODS A prospective observational study was designed. Inclusion criteria consisted of an indication to lung resection because of a clinical stage I or II non-small cell lung can...

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation can improve the functional capacity, but has a variable effect on the low fat-free mass (FFM) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Hypothesis: Pulmonary rehabilitation would not affect catabolic drives such as systemic inflammation and also protein breakdown. Methods: Patients (n = 40) were studied at the start of an 8-week in-patient pulm...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary rehabilitation can improve the functional capacity, but has a variable effect on the low fat-free mass (FFM) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. HYPOTHESIS Pulmonary rehabilitation would not affect catabolic drives such as systemic inflammation and also protein breakdown. METHODS Patients (n = 40) were studied at the start of an 8-week in-patient pul...

KEY POINTS Physiological changes are observed following a structured exercise training programme in patients with COPD, without changes in resting lung function.Exercise training is the cornerstone of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programme in patients with COPD.Most comorbidities in patients referred for pulmonary rehabilitation remain undiagnosed and untreated.After careful screeni...

Clear evidence for an association between systemic inflammation and increased arterial stiffness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is lacking. Moreover, the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on arterial stiffness are not well studied. We aimed to 1) confirm increased arterial stiffness in COPD; 2) evaluate its correlates including systemic inflammation; and 3) stud...

INTRODUCTION Pulmonary rehabilitation is now an accepted modality of care in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, in resource-limited settings, conventional pulmonary rehabilitation may not be feasible due to the high cost involved and the extensive infrastructure requirement. In view of these constraints, we designed a domiciliary pulmonary rehabili...

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a complex pathological condition associated with an important reduction in physical activity and psychological problems that contribute to the patient's disability and poor health-related quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation is aimed to eliminate or at least attenuate these difficulties, mainly by promoting muscular reconditioning. The scope ...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to determine what patients, professionals and significant others regarded as the most important positive- and challenging aspects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and to gain insight into how such programmes could be developed and improved. METHOD A modified Nominal Group Technique meth...

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a core component of the management of a patient with chronic lung disease. The respiratory therapist plays a vital role in pulmonary rehabilitation. Identifying patients who are eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation, assessing the individual patient prior to entry into the program, providing education regarding the patient's disease, and actively participating in the...