Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD-An Important Non-pharmacological Treatment

Abstract

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a non-pharmacological therapy that has emerged as a standard of care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is an integral part of the clinical management and health maintenance of those patients with chronic respiratory disease who remain symptomatic or continue to have decreased function despite standard medical treatment. It aims to reduce symptoms, decrease disability, increase participation in physical and social activities, and improve the overall quality of life (QOL) for patients with chronic respiratory disease. Currently, the focus of treatment is appropriate bronchodilator therapy but much like bronchodilator therapy, non-pharmacological therapy provides symptomatic improvement and better quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, patient-centered intervention that includes patient assessment, exercise training, self-management education, and psychosocial therapy delivered by an interdisciplinary team of therapists and it last for 6-8 weeks. The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation as a non-pharmacological treatment include decreased dyspnoea, improved health-related quality of life, fewer days of hospitalization, and decreased health-care utilization. This article aims to highlight the pulmonary rehabilitation, its indication, contraindication, benefits, component of PR and health care providers’ role in successful PR.