Obstructive Ventilatory Dysfunctions-Functional Assessment and Rehabilitation Program

Obstructive ventilatory dysfunctions have an increased incidence, and through functional assessment determined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), appropriate treatment can be established.

The objectives of our research are represented by the application of respiratory rehabilitation sessions according to the ICF in patients with obstructive ventilatory dysfunctions-with COPD or asthma, using a unique, international language and the evaluation of the results obtained before and after completion pulmonary rehabilitation.

We conducted a randomized prospective study between November 2022-April 2023, which included 84 patients diagnosed with obstructive ventilatory dysfunctions and who performed respiratory rehabilitation. They were divided into two categories: category 1-C1 which included 43 patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-COPD and category 2-C2 which included 41 patients diagnosed with asthma. The rehabilitation program lasted 8 weeks, with exercises performed from Monday to Friday, with a weekend break. Respiratory rehabilitation consisted of physical therapy, inspiratory and expiratory muscle training (IEMT), proper nutrition, and psychotherapy.

At the end of the program, most of the patients showed improvements in the ICF qualifiers, a fact that supported us that respiratory recovery is one of the basic therapies of patients with obstructive ventilatory dysfunctions.

The ICF allows the application of a personalized respiratory rehabilitation program. The ICF qualifiers are used for the functional assessment of patients and allow they to be included in individualized medical rehabilitation programs.