Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a "comprehensive intervention based on a thorough patient assessment followed by patient-tailored therapies such as exercise training, education, and behaviour change, designed to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to promote long-term adherence to health-enhancing behaviours." PR is designed for people who have recently experienced an exacerbation, with the goal of improving their respiratory function and, as a result, their quality of life (QOL) and involvement in daily activities. In those with Chronic Respiratory Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), PR has been shown to increase health-related Quality of Life (QOL) and exercise ability when compared to standard therapy. Before a person's lung condition gets serious, pulmonary rehabilitation therapies may be used. Even persons with less severe condition may benefit from therapy to improve their capacity to exercise and minimise shortness of breath. Persons with cancer receiving lung resection, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing lung volume reduction surgery, and people with severe lung illness undergoing lung transplantation may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation both before and after surgery.