Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease

Abstract

In chronic obstructive lung disease, increased airway resistance is a general physiologic expression of airway obstruction. The greatest therapeutic benefit results from measures which reduce this resistance early in the course of the disease. Broad categories of treatment are (1) cessation of smoking, (2) use of nebulized bronchodilators, (3) use of intermittent positive pressure breathing, and (4) breathing exercises. Rehabilitation of patients depends on the selection of therapy best suited to the stage of the disease in each patient.