Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has become an indispensable component of the modern care continuum for lung cancer. Substantial evidence confirms its definitive value in improving perioperative outcomes, mitigating treatment-related side effects, and enhancing quality of life in patients with advanced disease. However, a significant "implementation gap" exists between its proven clinical benefits and widespread application, primarily characterized by the lack of standardized protocols, uncertainty in optimal timing, and low patient adherence. Bridging this gap requires a dual-driven approach: harnessing technological innovations such as telerehabilitation, wearable devices, and artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility and personalization, alongside optimizing care models through multidisciplinary team collaboration. This review systematically analyzes the evidence, implementation barriers, and innovative pathways for PR in lung cancer care, aiming to catalyze its transition from an ancillary option to a core standard of care, and envisions a new paradigm of personalized PR that is patient-centered, data-driven, and technologically integrated.
