World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

COPD is a disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and cough. There are 300 million people living with COPD worldwide. This year’s theme, “Living Well With COPD – Everybody, Everywhere” sends a positive message to both patients and physiotherapists that there are many ways to live well with the disease. The campaign aims to raise awareness about interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation, physical activity, self-management and nutrition.

There is a growing amount of high-quality clinical research to guide the physiotherapy management of COPD. PEDro currently indexes over 1,300 clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials evaluating physiotherapy management of COPD.

You may like to read these clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews, which provide useful direction for physiotherapists working with patients with COPD:

• Dobler CC, et al (2019). Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies in adult patients with exacerbation of COPD: a systematic review. A guideline produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, US Department of Health and Human Services
• Alison JA, et al (2017). Australia and New Zealand pulmonary rehabilitation — clinical practice guidelines. A guideline produced by the Lung Foundation Australia and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Anderson B, et al (2016). Diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): 10th edition. A guideline produced by the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement in Minnesota USA
• Burge AT, et al. Interventions for promoting physical activity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020;Issue 4
• Chuatrakoon B, et al. Balance impairment and effectiveness of exercise intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — a systematic review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2020;101(9):1590-602
• McCarthy B, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;Issue 2

To keep up-to-date with the latest trials, reviews and guidelines evaluating physiotherapy interventions for people with COPD, subscribe to the “cardiothoracics” or “chronic respiratory disease” feeds of PEDro’s Evidence in your inbox. Subscription is free.