The Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Techniques on the Clinical Status of Patients with Moderate Severity Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) at University Hospitals of Isfahan in 2006-7

COPD is a common disease with well-known complications. Pulmonary rehabilitation techniques have been reported to be effective in clinical status of these patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation techniques on the clinical status in moderate severity COPD patients in university hospitals of Isfahan city in 2006-7. This quasi experimental research was carried out on 80 patients with moderate severity COPD. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (fifty patients in case group and 30 patients in control group). The severity of the disease was determined by the result of spirometry test. All the data was collected by demographic questionnaire and clinical status assessment form. Initially, clinical status of two groups was evaluated by clinical status assessment forms. After that chest physiotherapy and exciting Spirometry programs were carried out on case group through 20 minutes at morning and evening for two months. After the intervention, clinical status of patients in both groups was evaluated again. The findings showed that dyspnea, orthopnea, cough, sputum, breathing pattern, Peripheral cyanosis, chest pain, breathing sounds and FEV1/FVC were improved in test group after intervention (p<0.05). With regard to these findings, we that suggest using the demographic data and rehabilitation techniques in care programs of patients with COPD will improve the clinical status.