PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Zuwallack, Richard L TI - The Roles of Bronchodilators, Supplemental Oxygen, and Ventilatory Assistance in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease DP - 2008 Sep 01 TA - Respiratory Care PG - 1190--1195 VI - 53 IP - 9 4099 - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/53/9/1190.short 4100 - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/53/9/1190.full AB - In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves dyspnea, exercise capacity, quality of life, and health-resource utilization. These benefits result from a combination of education (especially in the promotion of collaborative self-management strategies and physical activity), exercise training, and psychosocial support. Exercise training increases exercise capacity and reduces dyspnea. Positive outcomes from exercise training may be enhanced by 3 interventions that permit the patient to exercise train at a higher intensity: bronchodilators, supplemental oxygen (even for the nonhypoxemic patient), and noninvasive ventilatory support.