New research says virtual pulmonary rehab is a safe alternative to traditional PR programs for COPD patients with or without supplemental oxygen needs.


RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

  1. Virtual rehab is safe and effective—even for those on oxygen: The study found that virtual pulmonary rehabilitation is just as safe and beneficial for people with COPD who require supplemental oxygen as it is for those who don’t. 99% of participants completed the program without any adverse effects.
  2. Clinical improvements across the board: Participants in both groups—those with and without supplemental oxygen—showed improvements in symptoms, mood, and exercise capacity, supporting the clinical value of virtual rehab.
  3. Increased access and personalization: Virtual programs expand access to pulmonary rehabilitation for people who may have mobility or geographic barriers, and they offer opportunities for more tailored care based on each patient’s situation.


Virtual pulmonary rehab is a safe, effective alternative to traditional pulmonary rehabilitation programs for people with COPD who also require supplemental oxygen, according to a study published in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation.

COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and educational program supervised by a healthcare professional, which helps people with chronic breathing difficulties. These programs teach people how to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are traditionally held in person; however, virtual or online programs are also available.

In this new report, the authors examined the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a virtual pulmonary rehabilitation program for people with COPD who did and did not require supplemental oxygen. The report compared the attendance rates, safety and improvements in symptoms, mood and exercise capacity for the two groups.

“Virtual pulmonary rehabilitation allows for increased access to these programs, which benefit people with COPD, regardless of their supplemental oxygen use. In our study, 99% of participants participated safely without any adverse effect, and participants in both groups had improvements in clinical outcomes,” said Russell Buhr, MD, PhD, a pulmonologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-senior author of the report. “Our findings demonstrate the need to increase use of virtual pulmonary rehabilitation programs to help improve the quality of life for people with COPD. By evaluating each patient’s situation and incorporating virtually accessible programs, we can offer more individualized care for patients.”