title: [The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)].
abstract: It is controversial whether pulmonary rehabilitation is effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To test the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation, 7 patients with COPD (aged 76.0 +/- 2.6 years) were enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation program for 6 weeks. The program consisted of relaxation, pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, panic control, muscle stretch gymnastics, and exercise training. The distance of the 6-minute walking test increased significantly from 246.4 +/- 38.0 (m) to 304.3 +/- 28.4 (m) (p < 0.05). The minimum SpO2 during the 6-minute walking test increased from 86.0 +/- 2.8 (%) to 90.1 +/- 1.3 (%) and dyspnea as measured with Borg scale decreased from 5.6 +/- 1.1 to 4.6 +/- 0.5, although they were not significantly different. These results suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation might improve exercise tolerance in elderly patients with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Printing, Bureau of Ministry of Finance.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sudo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanuma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012119:Respiration; D016138:Walking