ABSTRACT
The aims of pulmonary rehabilitation are to reduce symptoms, increase participation in physical and social activities, improve health status, and maximize independence for patients with respiratory disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs involve patient assessment, physiotherapy, behavior change and collaborative self-management, psychosocial support, and nutritional intervention. Pulmonary rehabilitation—improvement in muscle deconditioning, weakness and dysfunction of peripheral muscles, anxiety and depression, nutritional state, and so on—enable patients to walk farther and with less dyspnea. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective for people with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and therefore should be offered to the patients. A primary goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to reduce the patient's perception of dyspnea and enable patients to tolerate a higher level of activity. The goals of pulmonary rehabilitation overlap with palliative care regarding the management of symptoms and achievement of a sense of well-being. When the principles and techniques of pulmonary rehabilitation are appropriately applied into palliative-care settings, the care may be led to be more success.
