REHABILITATION FOR CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract

Respiratory function test and arterial blood gas analysis were performed before and after a 2-month rehabilitation program in a pool filled with 38°C hot-spring water in sixteen patients (66.4±15.2years of age) with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7 cases of pulmonary emphysema and 9 cases of bronchial asthma) treated at our hospital between 1993 and 1995. The ratio of forced expired volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1.0%) was significantly increased after the exercise program (p <0.05), while the ratio of forced vital capacity to predicted normal value (%FVC) did not change. Furthermore, a tendency toward an increase in peak flow without an increase in maximal expiratory flow at 25 and 50 percent (V25 and V50) was observed. Although PaO2 was not increased, PaCO2 was selectively decreased by the exercise program (p<0.05). The changes in the respiratory function and arterial blood gas were considered to be resulted from respiratory muscle training rather than small airway clearance. Therefore, physical therapy in a pool filled with hot-spring water may be useful in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.