Impact of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program on Ventilatory Functions and Severity Score in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized with poor quality of life and many symptoms that burden their medical care and increased mortality rate. In the other hand, pulmonary rehabilitation program plays a vital role in reversing the COPD adverse effects. Objective: This study was to investigate the effect of a designed pulmonary rehabilitation program consisted of breathing exercise, aerobic exercise added to low intensity laser therapy on ventilatory functions and severity score in COPD patients. Methods: Sixty patients with moderate severity of COPD, their age ranged between 38-55 years were participated in the study was divided into two equal groups the training group received pulmonary rehabilitation program consisted of breathing exercise, aerobic exercise added to low intensity laser therapy in addition to the current medical treatment and the control group (received only their current medical treatment) for 12 weeks. Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference in ventilatory functions and COPD severity score between the training group and the control group (B). Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation program is an effective treatment policy to improve ventilatory functions and COPD severity score.