[Use of pulmonary rehabilitation in the treatment of decreased respiratory muscle strength].

Decreased respiratory muscle strength could lead to other health problems, which can decrease the quality of life of those patients. Ineffective expectoration and dyspnoea during physical activities and during activity of daily living are the most frequent disorders associated with decreased respiratory muscle strength. Multidisciplinary treatment including pulmonary rehabilitation programme is very important for those patients. Ventilatory muscle training (strength and endurance type of training), airway clearance techniques - active (e.g. autogenic drainage, instrumental techniques) and passive (e.g. manual thoracic compression, mechanical insufflator/exsufflator machine) and exercise training are the most frequent used techniques in these patients. Assessment of all respiratory muscles function - especially their respiratory and postural function - is important at the beginning of rehabilitation treatment.