Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Jul 2000
Comparative StudyEffect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life in patients with COPD: the use of SF-36 summary scores as outcomes measures.
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an accepted therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), improving both exercise capacity and quality of life (QOL). Generic measures of QOL have been criticized as being insensitive to detecting the improvement in QOL after PR in contrast to disease-specific instruments. The authors looked at the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36), a generic QOL measure, to detect changes in QOL in COPD patients after completion of PR. ⋯ The SF-36 and its summary scores are sensitive instruments to detect improvement in QOL in COPD patients after PR.
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Jul 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAccuracy of recall of dyspnea after exercise training sessions.
Although clinicians often rely on patients' retrospective reporting of dyspnea, it is not known if dyspnea scores recalled after exercise are equivalent to dyspnea scores during exercise. The objective of this study was to determine whether patients could accurately recall after exercise the maximum ratings of the intensity of dyspnea and the anxiety associated with it that they experienced during exercise. ⋯ After exercise, patients with COPD as a group can accurately recall the worst SOB and DA that they experienced during exercise. This finding supports the further study and use of retrospective symptom ratings as a method for dyspnea assessment during exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation.
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Jan 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialHigh-intensity strength training of patients enrolled in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program.
This randomized controlled study assessed whether adding a program of high-intensity strength training (80% of maximum) to an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program would be a safe and effective means of improving muscle strength and body composition. ⋯ Medically supervised high-intensity strength training is well tolerated when added to the aerobic training of cardiac rehabilitation programs and allows patients to aggressively gain the strength and endurance they will need to complete daily living tasks at lower perceived efforts. Strength training also reduces cardiac risk factors by improving body composition and maximum treadmill exercise time.
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Jul 1998
ReviewAlternatives to percussion and postural drainage. A review of mucus clearance therapies: percussion and postural drainage, autogenic drainage, positive expiratory pressure, flutter valve, intrapulmonary percussive ventilation, and high-frequency chest compression with the ThAIRapy Vest.
The purpose of this article is to review published studies on the efficacy of old and new mucus clearance techniques and to develop recommendations for different groups of patients. Mucus clearance is a problem in cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and many other pulmonary conditions. Percussion and postural drainage (P & PD) was the traditional method of facilitating mucus clearance, but the many hazards and contraindications along with the onerous nature and resultant poor patient compliance of this procedure have led to the development of alternative therapies. ⋯ The Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation device and high-frequency chest compression with the ThAIRapy vest involve more elaborate and expensive equipment, yet these devices provide mucus clearance assistance to patients who lack the ability to perform the simpler techniques. Both mechanized modalities promote independence and self-care in the patient, and the effectiveness of both has been supported by the limited research published to date. Which alternative to recommend depends on the ability, motivation, preference, needs, and resources of each patient.