Is the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation additional to the effect of chest physiotherapy?
This was a small study comparing a sample of patients who undertake chest physiotherapy only compared with a sample who undertake both chest physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. The rehab programme was 8 weeks.
Key Conclusions: The addition of pulmonary rehabilitation to chest physiotherapy improves both exercise tolerance by 60 metres on a shuttle walk test and quality of life (reported through quality of life questionnaires). No impact on the results of spirometry tests (breathing tests). Larger studies are required to explore whether regular chest physiotherapy has an impact on chest infection frequency.
Patient Implications: Attending a pulmonary rehabilitation course will have benefits in terms of exercise tolerance and quality of life and is recommended if you have significant breathlessness.
Reference: Respiratory Medicine 2012; 106(12): 1647-1654
