Pulmonary Exercise Program

Pulmonary exercise programs, a modified approach to pulmonary rehabilitation, are designed to help the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease achieve his or her maximal level of function. Sixteen patients completed our program in the first year. There was an average increase of 20.4 % in distance walked from the start to the completion of the program, as measured by a 12-minute walk test. There was no significant change in the forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity ratio. All of the patients who completed the program related feelings of increased well-being and confidence. Although one may not see improvement in pulmonary function with a pulmonary exercise program, one will see subjective improvement and an increase in exercise tolerance.