[COPD-rehabilitation].

Abstract

Rehabilitation of COPD-patients is an important part of the therapeutic management. The effects of endurance- and resistance-training as well as respiratory muscle-training are evident. Smoking cessation therapy is standardized, effective and cheap, and is the prerequisite of a successful COPD management. Patients with severe or very severe COPD not only have to inhale their medication exactly, but also have to undertake physical exercise and optimize their body weight. This cannot normally be achieved without adequate education. A structured patients' education optimizes all therapeutic action and is an integral part of the management of COPD.