Review: rehabilitation improves exercise capacity and alleviates shortness of breath in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Q In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), does rehabilitation (extremity or respiratory muscle exercise) increase exercise capacity and alleviate shortness of breath?
METHODS
Data sources:
Medline (1966–2000), CINAHL (1990–2000), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, abstracts presented at national meetings (American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society), and bibliographies of relevant articles.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (published in any language) that involved patients with obstructive lung disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] <70% of predicted value or FEV1/forced vital capacity <70% of predicted value) and symptoms of impaired exercise capacity; evaluated any type of rehabilitation (upper or lower extremity, or respiratory muscle exercise) provided 3 times a week for ⩾4 …
