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 is to exam the effects of a short-term pulmonary program on lung function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in chronic lung patients.

Randomized controlled pre-post test design was used. The outcome measures were forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, % predicted), 6 min walking distance (6MWD), Borg score after 6MWD, and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ). Experimental group performed the 4-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program composed of inspiratory muscle training, upper and lower extremity exercise, relaxation, and telephone visit. Patients in control group were only given education about self-management strategies. Thirty four patients with moderate-to-severe respiratory impairment were recruited, and 28 patients (19 in experiments, 15 in control) completed the study.

Significant improvements in lung function, exercise tolerance, and health related quality of life were found only in the experiment group.

This study yielded evidence for the potential and beneficial effects of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with moderate to severe chronic lung disease. The program could be adequately utilized for improvement of health related quality of life in chronic lung patients.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a Progressive Walking program (PW) on physical activity, exercise tolerance, recovery, and post-operative complications for patients with a lung resection.

A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was utilized and 37 participants with a lung resection (22 for control group, 15 for experimental group) were recruited at A university hospital from December 2012 to August 2013. The PW consisted of preoperative education, goal setting, and feedback, provided to the experimental group, and usual care to the control group. Data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 18.0.

A higher proportion of patients in the experimental group showed adequate levels of physical activity (p= .001), shorter period of chest tube retention (≤ 7 days; p= .011), and shorter stay in the hospital (≤ 10 days; p= .036) than patients in the control group. Patients in the experimental group reported longer 6-minute walking distance (p= .032) and lower levels of dyspnea (p= .049) than patients in the control group. The PW did not influence the occurrence of pulmonary complications.

The findings of this study suggest that the PW could be a useful strategy for improving patients’ post-operative health and reducing cost after lung resection.