[Respiratory rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis]

In clinical practice, physical therapy is more often applied in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease than in other pulmonary diseases. One of them is pulmonary sarcoidosis. Depending on the stage, there are a few different types of pulmonary dysfunctions. With early disease progression pulmonary obstruction is expected and later interstitial fibrosis may lead to restrictive syndrome and development of bronchiectasias.

Respiratory rehabilitation may improve pulmonary ventilation and the choice depends on lesion features. The objectives of respiratory rehabilitation are. to establish the optimal respiratory rate, sustain opened airways, achieve automatic diaphragm breathing and improve ventilation. For these purposes different techniques are used: aerosol therapy, breathing exercises, forced expiration, postural drainage, kinesitherapy. Using more than one of these techniques in the same patient we can prevent or delay consequences of respiratory failure and early disability. Early respiratory rehabilitation in these patients is an opportunity to reduce disability and improve quality of life.