The Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ravi shankar mishra; dayashankar parauha

Volume : VI, Issue : VIII, August - 2017

The Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ravi Shankar Mishra, Dayashankar Parauha

Abstract :

Background. Recent research shows that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programmes in patients

of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reduced dyspnoea, improved exercise capacity, and prevented occurrence of further exacerbations.

Objective. To evaluate the utility of a 12-week PR programme in patients with COPD.

Methods. Patients with COPD, were evaluated for baseline and after the end of pulmonary rehabilitation. Baseline assessment included spirometry,

six-minute walk test (6MWT), symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment by generic questionnaire medical outcomes study short form (S-F 36) questionnaire and dyspnoea evaluation by Borg score. The study group patients were treated with usual care plus PR exercises in the form of 20 minutes each of

walking, bicycle ergometry and resistance exercises, thrice-weekly for 12 weeks.

The assessment was repeated in study group after 12 weeks.

Results: Sessions of PR exercises produced statistically significant improvement in general well-being, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), 6MWT parameters, exercise capacity.

Conclusion. PR programmes appear to be helpful in the management of COPD.