Respiratory Rehabilitation Exercises in Older Adults With Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The respiratory rehabilitation exercise training package included: (a) Disease awareness: The doctor explained the disease to patients and their families through the chest X-ray, (b) Sputum clearance treatments: Easily understood postural drainage cards were provided to the patients and families to assist with proper sputum clearance procedures, (c) Pursed lip breathing training: Devices were provided to the patients to ensure that the breathing exercises were completed properly, (d) Upper-limb exercise with breathing pranayama: Towels were provided to the patients to assist with upper-limb exercises properly, (e) Walking training with breathing pranayama: Legs were elevated while inhaling, and returned to the position while exhaling, and (f) Assign a pulmonary rehabilitation program coordinator: Coordinators were assigned to assist the patients in nutrition management and health education.

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosed with moderate COPD with moderate acute exacerbation
• over 65 years of age
• conscious clear
• with shortness of breath or dyspnea that was not caused by heart disease, pneumothorax, or pulmonary edema
• had received bronchodilator aerosol therapy or antibiotic treatment, but had not been treated with an antitussive

Exclusion criteria

• unstable vital signs
• blood oxygen concentration lower than 90%
• unstable psychological status, hemoptysis, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, or using the respirator