Respiratory issues in rehabilitation

Respiratory aspects of rehabilitation fall into two broad and overlapping categories. One is that of pulmonary rehabilitation which traditionally has focused on exercise, behaviour change, and educational-based intervention for those with chronic lung disease, predominantly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but its efficacy has since been proven in other chronic respiratory conditions (e.g. asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung transplantation, and pulmonary hypertension). The other is rehabilitation in the context of neurogenic respiratory impairment, which is relevant to persons with both degenerative and monophasic-onset neurological conditions. These categories are overlapping as techniques from one may have relevance to the other. This chapter describes these aspects, investigations, and interventions.