Principles of rehabilitation and reactivation.

Skeletal muscle dysfunction and physical inactivity are two clinically important features of a wide range of acute and chronic respiratory conditions. Optimisation of both of these features is important in order to improve physical function, prevent clinical deterioration and maximise community participation. One of the most potent and evidence-based interventions to address these physical deficits is pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Whilst the majority of PR research has been conducted in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is widespread recognition that PR can benefit many other respiratory patient groups. These include patients with interstitial lung diseases, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, pre-/post-lung surgery (e.g. lung cancer, transplantation) and cystic fibrosis to name a few. Exercise training must be appropriately prescribed by a skilled healthcare professional with comprehensive knowledge of the pathology and physiology of these conditions, as well as a sound understanding of the exercise physiology and core principles of exercise prescription, monitoring and progression. It has also become increasingly recognised that people with respiratory conditions, particularly those with chronic disease, are considerably less active than those of good health. PR should therefore aim to induce behavioural change to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of an active lifestyle. In addition, PR should pay attention to the psychological well-being of patients and self-management of their lung disease in all its aspects. To that end, multidisciplinary individualised programs should be offered. This review sets the scene of PR principles for a series of papers that will focus on specific diseases other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease where rehabilitation may offer a clinically important aspect of care over and above conventional pharmacological treatment.

Acute Mucociliary Clearance Response to Aerobic Exercise in Smokers.

BACKGROUND: Mucociliary clearance is the main defense mechanism of the respiratory system, and it is influenced by several stimuli, including aerobic exercise and cigarette smoking. We evaluated the acute response of mucociliary clearance to aerobic exercise in smokers and nonsmokers compared with that found after acute smoking and smoking combined with exercise. Also, we investigated whether there was a correlation between mucociliary clearance and the autonomic nervous system under these conditions. METHODS: Twenty-one smokers were evaluated for mucociliary clearance by saccharin transit time (STT), and the response of the autonomic nervous system was evaluated by heart rate variability after aerobic exercise, after exercise followed by smoking, after acute smoking, and after rest. For comparison, 17 nonsmokers were also assessed during exercise. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with the Tukey test or the Friedman test followed by the Dunn test was used to evaluate the STT, autonomic response, and other variables to exercise and/or smoking in smokers. A paired t test or Wilcoxon test was used to analyze responses to exercise in nonsmokers. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson or Spearman coefficients. RESULTS: The STT was reduced after exercise in both groups, with similar responses between them. Other stimuli also reduced the STT. The STT showed a negative correlation with sympathetic activity in smokers and a positive correlation with the parasympathetic system in nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Although impaired in smokers, mucociliary clearance responded to the stimulus of exercise, as demonstrated by similar STTs compared with nonsmokers. This response was correlated with the autonomic nervous system in both groups. In smokers, mucociliary clearance also responded to the stimuli of smoking and exercise followed by smoking.

Nasal Mucociliary Clearance in Subjects With COPD After Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to cigarette smoke causes significant impairment in mucociliary clearance (MCC), which predisposes patients to secretion retention and recurrent airway infections that play a role in exacerbations of COPD. To determine whether smoking cessation may influence MCC and frequency of exacerbations, the following groups were evaluated: ex-smokers with COPD, smokers with COPD, current smokers with normal lung function, and nonsmokers with normal lung function. METHODS: Ninety-three subjects were divided into 4 groups: ex-smokers with COPD (n = 23, 62.4 ± 8.0 y, 13 males), smokers with COPD (n = 17, 58.2 ± 8.0 y, 6 males), current smokers (n = 27, 61.5 ± 6.4 y, 17 males), and nonsmokers (n = 26, 60.8 ± 11.3 y, 7 males). MCC was evaluated using the saccharin transit time (STT) test, and the frequency of exacerbations in the last year was assessed by questionnaire. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's test were used to compare STT among groups, and the Goodman test was used to compare the frequency of exacerbations. RESULTS: STT of smokers with COPD (16.5 [11-28] min; median [interquartile range 25-75%]) and current smokers (15.9 [10-27] min) was longer compared with ex-smokers with COPD (9.7 [6-12] min) and nonsmokers (8 [6-16] min) (P < .001). There was no difference in STT values between smokers with COPD and current smokers, and these values in ex-smokers with COPD were similar to the control group (P > .05). The frequency of exacerbations was lower in ex-smokers with COPD compared with smokers with COPD. CONCLUSIONS: One year after smoking cessation, subjects with COPD had improved mucociliary clearance.