OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effects of modified pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A total of 125 patients (63 in the PR group and 62 in the control group) were recruited in this study. The patients in the PR group received 12 weeks of conventional treatment, nursing, and modified pulmonary rehabilitation, while the patients in the control group underwent 12 weeks of conventional treatment, nursing, pursed-lip breathing training, and abdominal breathing training. Baseline characteristics, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the six-minute walk test (6MWT), modified medical research council (MMRC) dyspnea scale, and lung function were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients (58 patients in the PR group and 54 patients in the control group) completed the 12-week monitoring and follow-up. The SGRQ scores, symptoms (54.933 +/- 11.900), activity (52.644 +/- 14.334), impact (55.400 +/- 9.905), and total score (54.655 +/- 10.681) of the PR group did not significantly differ in pre- and post-treatments (p < 0.05). No significant change was also observed in the control group (p > 0.05). 6MWT (372.089 +/- 67.149 m) was significantly improved in the PR group (p < 0.05) but was not significantly different in the control group (p > 0.05). MMRC (actual rank sum 1,719, rank sum 2,047.5) was significantly reduced in the PR group (p < 0.05) but not in the control group (p > 0.05). The lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEV1% and PEF) of the patients in both groups did not significantly change (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Modified PR reduces the symptoms of dyspnea, increases exercise capacity, and improves the quality of life of patients with moderate to severe COPD.

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