Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular and Geriatrics Disorders

Background: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are crucial chronic lung disease which are associated with progressive reduction in lung volume, gas exchange limitations and skeletal muscle dysfunction leading to increased perception of dyspnea, worsening of exercise capacity and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with ILD remained largely unknown with limited data. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate of the efficacy of Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program combined with threshold inspiratory muscle training device and upper extremities exercises on exercise capacity, pulmonary function test (PFT), dyspnea and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: sixty patients of both genders aged between 30 to 60 years (48 women, 12 man) diagnosed with Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) were enrolled between 2016 and 2019. Patients were divided into two groups equal in number (30 patients in each group); the study group (A) who received Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) accompanied with threshold inspiratory muscle training (IMT) device and upper extremities exercises besides medical treatment and the control group (B) that received PR only and medical treatment. The program was three times per week for 8 weeks. Outcome were 6-min walk test (6MWT), pulmonary function test (PFT), dyspnea, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by the short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire and oxygen saturation that were evaluated at beginning and after completion of the program (eight weeks apart). RESULTS: There was significant increase in the mean 6-min walk test (6MWT) distance, pulmonary function test (PFT), dyspnea, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and oxygen saturation after Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) as compared to the baseline criteria within each group and there was significant increase in these variables among the study group compared to control group

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