Pulmonary rehabilitation: Mechanisms of benefits
Pulmonary rehabilitation increases exercise tolerance and improves general well-b eing o f patients with chronic lung disease. The m echanism s o f these benefits, how ever, are not clear. This paper w ill review the rationale and supporting data for physiologic and p sychologic m echanism s that may be operative in the pulmonary rehabilitation process. Pre and post physiologic and psychologic test data obtained from 79 participants in the Duke intensive pulmonary rehabilitation program are presented and serve to dem onstrate the benefits o f pulmonary rehabilitation. Hypothetical physiologic responses to progressive exercise are considered for four potential m echan ism s; ex e rc ise training, increased m o tiv a tio n , decreased hyperventilation, and improved efficien cy. The pattern o f changes in test data suggests that the benefits derived from our rehabilitation program occur primarily as a result o f exercise training, and, to a lesser extent, from increased efficien cy and better airway m anagem ent.
