Physiotherapy in respiratory disease

Abstract

Key points Educational aims Summary Physiotherapy is relevant to the treatment of patients with acute and chronic lung disease, but it is also effective in patients with advanced neuromuscular disorders, in patients admitted for major surgery and patients with critical illness in the intensive care unit (ICU). Physiotherapy contributes to the assessment and treatment of various aspects of respiratory disorders, such as airflow obstruction, atelectasis, mucus retention, respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness, impaired exercise performance, dyspnoea, and quality of life. This overview discusses the contribution of physiotherapy in three conditions related to respiratory disease: deconditioning; dyspnoea and respiratory pump dysfunction; and impaired airway clearance and lung inflation.