Exercise Training in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Abstract

Exercise capacity is normally limited by the maximal rate of oxygen transport to the mitochondria of the exercising muscles. The limiting symptoms are skeletal-muscle fatigue and discomfort caused by local anaerobic metabolism and lactic acid accumulation.In contrast, exercise capacity in patients with chronic airflow obstruction is limited by the maximal level of ventilation they can sustain. The limiting symptom is dyspnea or generalized fatigue. Exercise training is commonly used in programs of pulmonary rehabilitation in an attempt to improve exercise tolerance. To understand the benefits and limitations of exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation, it is necessary to consider the . . .