Home-based exercise in COPD patients

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that cause from emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The main symptoms are dyspnea, chronic cough and productive sputum. In order to COPD is a progressive, non-fully reversible with occasional exacerbate disease. Therefore, the pulmonary rehabilitation program, especially home-base exercise program is an important part of the clinical management and health maintenance of the patients. The exercise program aims to promote better health, relieves dyspnea, improves exercise capacity, activity dairy living and quality of life, relieves stress and avoids acute exacerbation. The program composes of pursed lib breathing exercise, active chest mobilization exercise, strengthening exercise by elastic band and sandbag and aerobic exercise by walking. The exercise session is recommended to perform 2-3 sets/day and at least 3 days per week. In addition, the exercise intensity should progressively by increase the resistance load or the exercise duration. In conclusion, regularly perform home-base exercise program can result in improving the health status and also help reduce the cost of hospital admissions to the patients.