Pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD

Patients with stable COPD and following exacerbations of COPD.

To improve fitness and strength and reduce feelings of breathlessness.

To reduce activity limitation and participation restriction, and restore patients to highest possible level of independent functioning and improve quality of life.

To reduce hospital admissions.

Initiation of physical exercise may be challenging in patients after an exacerbation. However, pulmonary rehabilitation after exacerbation of COPD appears safe and effective.

Time may be required to find the appropriate exercise protocol for the individual patient.

The Australian Lung Foundation list of pulmonary rehabilitation programs by state.

Exercise training programs require assessment of exercise endurance and strength, and creation of an individual exercise prescription (see case study example).

A pulmonary rehabilitation program must include, at a minimum, the following lower limb endurance exercises:

• Walking training for all patients
• Stationary cycling training.

Intensity, duration, frequency and type of exercise (i.e. continuous or interval) are also included in the exercise prescription. If possible, a pulmonary rehabilitation program should also include:

• a home exercise program
• upper limb endurance and strength training
• lower limb strength training.

Other components may include flexibility and stretching exercises, balance exercises, inspiratory muscle training, a patient education program and psychosocial support.

A detailed Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit is available from The Australian Lung Foundation (see Tips and Challenges).

Pulmonary rehabilitation after acute exacerbation of COPD:

• significantly reduces risk for hospital re-admission
• significantly reduces mortality
• improves health-related quality of life
• improves exercise capacity.

An advantage of rehabilitation after exacerbation is that it may provide a window of opportunity for patient education in that they may be more willing to change their health behaviours following an exacerbation.

Patients often re-exacerbate within weeks, disrupting or sometimes discontinuing their rehabilitation program.

For acute exacerbations, the rehabilitation program must commence within three weeks of initiation of exacerbation treatment. The minimum duration of an effective program that includes exercise training is six weeks, and the longer the program, the more effective it appears to be.

The Australian Lung Foundation has a comprehensive Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit.

The Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) has a Pocket Guide to COPD Diagnosis, Management and Prevention (2011 Revision) available for translation into multiple languages.

NHMRC Level 1 Evidence.

The Australian Lung Foundation offers patient support resources.
The Australian Lung Foundation patient fact sheet on pulmonary rehabilitation
The Better Health Channel website has easy-to-read consumer resources about COPD

• Understanding Pulmonary Rehabilitation Part 1 (7.46 minutes)
• Understanding Pulmonary Rehabilitation Part 2 (5.26 minutes)