This study was conducted to combine the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) on exercise capacity/tolerance and general health status of COPD patients based on the primary research results examined the effects of PRP.

Seventeen studies were selected by the sampling criteria established to include the studies that reported enough statistics necessary to conduct meta-analysis.

According to the study results, the most effective indicators for exercise capacity/tolerance were exercise time (such as cycling time or treadmill walking time) and ground walking distance within given time (6 minutes or 12 minutes), whereas effects on such indicators as VE and VO2 were not statistically significant. PRP induced significant effect on patients' general health status, frequently measured by physical, psycho-emotional, and holistic indicators, the enhancement on psycho-emotional dimension resulted from PRP was more prominent than those of the other dimensions. From the results, it was noted that the place where PRP was given and the contents of PRP exercised their influence on the outcome variables. Which body part was trained was also one of the important factors that influence on the patients' perception of dyspnea during exercise as well as on exercise capacity/tolerance.

PRP including exercise training significantly improved the exercise capacity and general health status of COPD patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program on dyspnea, exercise capacity, and health related quality of life in inpatients with chronic lung disease.

This quasi experimental study was designed with a nonequivalent control group pre-post test time series. Twenty three patients were assigned to the experimental group and nineteen to the control group. The inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program was composed of upper and lower extremity exercise, breathing retraining, inspiratory muscle training, education, relaxation and telephone contacts. This program consisted of 4 sessions with inpatients and 4 weeks at home after discharge. The control group was given a home based pulmonary rehabilitation program at the time of discharge. The outcomes were measured by the Borg score, 6MWD and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire(CRQ).

There was a statistically significant difference in dyspnea between the experimental group and control group, but not among time sequence, or interaction between groups and time sequence. Also significant improvements in exercise capacity and health related quality of life were found only in the experimental group.

An Inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program may be a useful intervention to reduce dyspnea, and increase exercise capacity and health related quality of life for chronic lung disease patients.