Pulmonary rehabilitation and pharmacotherapy.
Though pulmonary rehabilitation can have potent effects on exercise capacity and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), not all patients benefit to the same degree. Enabling patients to achieve higher training intensities may improve exercise capacity. Adding pharmacological agents to target the abnormal ventilatory mechanics or skeletal muscle dysfunction may enhance the effects of exercise training. This review discusses the rationale and clinical evidence supporting the use of pharmacological adjuncts during the course of pulmonary rehabilitation.
Varadi
Robert G
RG
Division of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Goldstein
Roger
R
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000379:methods*
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents