Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program designed for people who have chronic lung disease. Its primary goal is to enable people to achieve and maintain their maximum level of independence and functioning. Although most pulmonary rehabilitation programs focus on people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, people with other types of lung disease may benefit as well. People in all age groups can benefit, including those older than 70.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs may improve quality of life by reducing shortness of breath, increasing exercise tolerance, promoting a sense of well-being, and, to a lesser extent, decreasing the number of hospitalizations. However, these programs do not significantly improve survival.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are usually conducted in an outpatient setting or in the person's home. Inpatient services often take place in special rehabilitation centers. Inpatient services are used mainly for people who are recovering from a hospitalization, often because of a severe lung problem. These people are often not stable enough to go home but no longer require care in an intensive care unit. The most successful rehabilitation programs are those in which services are provided by a respiratory or physical therapist, a nurse, a doctor, a psychologist or social worker, and a dietitian working as the pulmonary rehabilitation team to coordinate complex medical services. Most people are enrolled in these programs for 8 to 12 weeks. However, the techniques learned during the program have to be continued at home after the rehabilitation program ends or the gains made will be lost.

Supportive respiratory therapy, which includes oxygen therapy and chest physical therapy, can be used in conjunction with pulmonary rehabilitation. Supportive therapy can also be used for people not enrolled in these programs but who have chronic lung disorders (such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis) or acute lung conditions (such as pneumonia).

Last full review/revision May 2007 by Bartolome R. Celli, MD