title: Pulmonary rehabilitation: definition, concept, and history.
abstract: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a complex intervention for which it is difficult to craft a succinct yet inclusive definition. Pulmonary rehabilitation should be considered for all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who remain symptomatic or have decreased functional status despite otherwise optimal medical management. The essential components of pulmonary rehabilitation are exercise training and self-management education, tailored to the needs of the individual patient and integrated into the course of the disease trajectory. Emerging data support a role for pulmonary rehabilitation in nontraditional contexts, such as during exacerbation in the non-COPD patient and in the home setting.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine/Critical Care Section, Providence VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908, USA. Electronic address: linda_nici@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nici
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care - Medical, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saint Francis Medical Group, Inc, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105, USA.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: ZuWallack
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000266:history / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care
keywords: Behavioral change; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Exercise training; Pulmonary rehabilitation