[Which physical tests for which objectives in pulmonary rehabilitation?]

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Chronic respiratory disease significantly impacts morbidity, mortality, and quality of life globally.
• Reduced exercise, functional, and muscle capacity are key disabilities in chronic respiratory disease.
• Effective disease management necessitates patient-centered outcome assessments beyond lung function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a pragmatic synthesis of commonly used physical, functional, and muscle capacity tests in pulmonary rehabilitation.
• To aid clinicians in selecting appropriate assessments based on patient objectives, resources, and setting.
• To support personalized physical interventions and evaluation of rehabilitation effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on physical, functional, and muscle capacity tests for chronic respiratory disease.
• Synthesis of commonly employed assessment procedures in pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Analysis of test characteristics relevant to clinical application.

Main Results:

• Clinicians have numerous tests available to assess physical and functional capacity.
• The choice of test depends on specific patient goals and rehabilitation context.
• A comprehensive assessment guides personalized interventions and outcome evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Thorough assessment of physical, functional, and muscle capacity is crucial in pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Selecting appropriate, change-sensitive tests enhances personalized care and treatment effectiveness.
• This review offers guidance for clinicians in optimizing patient assessments.