RESUMO

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a package of physical training and psychosocial education aimed at maximizing the functioning and independence of patients with respiratory disease. There is strong evidence to support the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in improving exercise tolerance, health-related quality of life, and dyspnea. More recent studies suggest that pulmonary rehabilitaton is also a cost-effective therapy with an impact on hospitalization days for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The package of care is tailored to the indivudals' needs, targeting both physical impairment and psychological factors. This review provides a broad insight into the role of pulmonary rehabilitation and addresses the pertinent issues from a physiological and psychosocial perspective.