Assessment in individual with lung disease: from structure to function

Summary: The Canadian and Brazilian groups have focused on measuring the level of physical activity and importance of pulmonary rehabilitation in the most prevalent respiratory diseases, asthma and COPD, chronic disease that present increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over 300 million people in the world are affected by asthma and it has been estimated that around >10% of subjects older than 40 years have COPD. The burden of both diseases is beyond a pulmonary disorder alone and has a condition associated with systemic effects; therefore requiring a multidisciplinary approach with the association of traditional treatment to non-pharmacological intervention. Physical inactivity seems common in bot patients and there are evidences suggesting that is also related with worsening in patient´s clinical condition. In addition, exercise-based interventions seem to reduce patient´s dyspnea and improve health related quality of life and exercise capacity; training; however, there are many gaps in this research field. The Canadian research group has focused on physical activity in COPD patients and evaluation of adjunct interventions during rehabilitation while the Brazilian research group has investigated clinical, functional and physiological relevance of physical fitness testing and training in people with asthma.

Dina Brooks: holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2). She is a full Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto. She is trained as a physical therapist and a physiologist and is recognized internationally as a leader in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation. Her research includes a strong focus on exercise training in individuals with respiratory and/or cardiovascular disease. She has over 170 peer-reviewed published papers and holds many operating and infrastructure grants. She is the editor of Physiotherapy Canada, the only peer reviewed Canadian physiotherapy journal.

Celso RF Carvalho: Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo. He is a Researcher 1D from National Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) and it trained on respiratory therapy and exercise physiology. His research includes a main focus on the benefits of exercise in asthmatic patients and has 60 peer-reviewed published papers. He is the editor of Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia and Revista Brasileira de Fisioterapia, both peer reviewed and indexed on Medline.