Lung rehabilitation helps in COPD
7 June 2002
Patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation, the first Australian guidelines of their kind say.
Dr Peter Frith, director of respiratory medicine and pulmonary rehabilitation at the Repatriation General Hospital in Adelaide, prepared the draft guidelines for the Australian Lung Foundation.
'The evidence is, pound for pound, that [pulmonary rehabilitation] is the most effective treatment to get people with moderate to severe COPD back on the road,' Dr Frith said.
'It makes them feel better and helps carers.
'Only 1% of people with severe enough COPD to be helped are in programmes.'
'This is something every moderate to severe COPD patient should do. They will see physical benefits within 4 weeks and psychological benefits immediately,' he said.
A hospital physiotherapy department or respiratory physician could provide more information on local programmes, Dr Frith said.
Create breathing space
Evidence shows pulmonary rehabilitation:
- improves exercise capacity and confidence;
- reduces breathlessness, depression and anxiety;
- educates about drugs, the lungs, how to breathe effectively, how to handle breathlessness, relax and control stress to avoid panicking if breathless; and
- teaches exercises to increase general activity, improve the strength of shoulder muscles to help breathing, use the diaphragm more effectively, and boost leg strength and endurance.
Last Reviewed: 11 June 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 7/06/02
