ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the definition and concept of pulmonary rehabilitation as an intervention that can reduce dyspnea, arguably the overriding symptom of individuals with chronic lung disease and the major factor impacting their quality of life. It also discusses the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Pulmonary rehabilitation has emerged as a gold standard of care for symptomatic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is prominently placed in clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of this disease. The rehabilitation of the COPD patient can serve as a good model to compare other interventions such as bronchodilators and treatments of other diseases such as ILD and pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary rehabilitation is considered a prominent component in the integration of care of the patient with chronic respiratory disease. The educational component of pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on self-management strategies, providing the knowledge and promoting the skills required for optimal collaboration with healthcare providers.
