Pulmonary Rehabilitation

The second edition of "Pulmonary Rehabilitation", by CF Donner, N Ambrosino and RS Goldstein deals with the most recent innovations in the field such as new approaches to exercise training, namely whole-body vibrations and water-based rehabilitation. A section on the  management of lung transplantation, as well as the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in intensive and critical care settings, is undoubtedly providing further insights on these specific arguments. The chapter on COVID-19, the personalized approach to and the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in palliative care are examples of novelties in the field. Professionals seeking to improve their specific knowledge on pulmonary rehabilitation should have this book on their bookcase and when reading it, thinking about the significant value of human cooperation. Looking at the contributors of this edition, we are in the presence of recognized clinical experts in their field, and we stand proudly with them in appreciating their work.

Massimiliano Polastri

Medical Department of Continuity of Care and Disability,

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Orsola University

Hospital, Bologna, Italy

Department of Clinical, Integrated and Experimental

Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, and Respiratory and

Critical Care Unit, St. Orsola University Hospital, Bologna, Italy

The second edition of Pulmonary Rehabilitation edited by Donner, Ambrosino, and Goldstein is a welcome, timely, and comprehensive reference that draws upon an international roster of experts and rising stars in pulmonary rehabilitation. This book will prove to be an excellent source of information for both practitioners and investigators with extensive documentation and timely references focused on new reports since publication of the first edition in 2005. Topics span the past, present, and future horizons of this rapidly emerging field, and are particularly relevant to the transformational changes in the world and in healthcare resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Of particular interest in the COVID-19 era that seriously compromised traditional outpatient programs is the discussion of new approaches to expand the reach of pulmonary rehabilitation to the home and via the potential use of telerehabilitation, and even a timely chapter on pulmonary rehabilitation in patients recovering from COVID-19. Overall, this book is well worthwhile as a reference for current pulmonary rehabilitation practices as well as for new ideas and horizons in this rapidly emerging field.

Andrew Ries
Department of Medicine and Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA