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Area of care: Breathing

COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation

In short

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term lung disease: the airways stay permanently inflamed and blocked, and breathing gradually gets weaker. Smoking is the main cause.

  • Areas concerned: Breathing
  • Page reviewed on October 30, 2026

Breathing

Common signs

  • Cough, at first now and then, then every day
  • Phlegm, especially in the morning
  • Breathlessness, at first during exertion
  • Breathlessness with ever lighter efforts, then even at rest

When to see a doctor

  • Breathlessness with wheezing and a condition that gets worse quickly
  • Cough deeper and stronger than usual, or bringing up phlegm when coughing
  • Loss of consciousness just after a coughing fit
  • Legs that swell, or swelling that gets worse
  • Fever, or treatment that seems to work less well

What physiotherapy does

Pulmonary rehabilitation is offered when breathlessness gets in the way and exertion is poorly tolerated. In it, the physiotherapist takes charge of retraining the muscles, sometimes with respiratory physiotherapy, with the aim of tolerating exertion better, being less breathless and recovering more easily. These exercises come with patient education and are part of the overall follow-up of the disease. During a flare-up of the disease, physiotherapy can also help clear the airways.

Techniques used at the practice

Progressive exercise retraining, peripheral muscle strengthening, breathing exercises and strategies for managing breathlessness. Airway clearance techniques and devices when they are indicated.

How the sessions go

Assessment of breathlessness and functional capacity, then a progressive programme coordinated with medical follow-up. Monitoring of exercise tolerance and of the relevant clinical measures.

My pain diaryFill it in every day, show it at your session

Advice

Keep up a suitable level of activity, break efforts into stages and apply the breathing strategies you have been taught. Report any unusual worsening of symptoms.

Sources

  1. Comprendre la BPCO ou bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive (new tab)Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), accessed October 26, 2026
  2. Symptômes, diagnostic et évolution de la BPCO (new tab)Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), accessed October 26, 2026
  3. Traitement de la BPCO (new tab)Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), accessed October 26, 2026

Page reviewed on October 30, 2026

This page is for information and does not replace a consultation. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.