Physiotherapists use a variety of methods to help ICU patients with their respiratory problems, which will be addressed briefly. These modalities will be categorized based on their intended application.
Physiotherapy (also known as physical therapy) focuses on improving, maintaining, and restoring an individual's maximum movement and functional ability. Examination/assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis/treatment planning, intervention/treatment, and re-examination are all part of the process.
The international classification of function is the most common conceptual framework used by physiotherapists; the major purpose of this classification is to improve the patient's participation in everyday life. Physiotherapy for patients with respiratory disorders might include, but is not limited to, chest physiotherapy or secretion clearance, as well as breathing exercises. In many domains, from intensive care to chronic pulmonary problems, the evidence foundation supporting the use of physiotherapy in the form of exercise training has developed in recent years.
Physiotherapy treatments are available to people of all ages and at all phases of disease, from early detection to chronic illness, acute episodes, and end-of-life care. As a result, physiotherapists play a distinct and distinct function in the majority of clinical care routes. Assessment, consultation, education, and hands-on intervention are all part of the physiotherapist's role in patient care. Respiratory physiotherapists have traditionally assisted in the mobilization and evacuation of secretions. Physiotherapists, on the other hand, can help with a wide range of issues.
Physiotherapists that specialize in respiratory disease treatment have a foundation in respiratory physiology, exercise and muscle physiology, exercise training, and behaviour modification principles. Mechanical ventilation, aerosol administration, and pulmonary rehabilitation are examples of other sub specializations.
A physiotherapist should strive for the aforementioned goals while keeping evidence-based practice in mind, which means they should know the most effective intervention based on the data and integrate that knowledge and application with clinical judgement of individuals and patient preference. The role of physiotherapy in the treatment with respiratory disorders has recently been summarized and approved by evidence-based treatment guidelines. Patients see their physiotherapist on a regular basis and for an extended period of time. As a result, the physiotherapist is in a great position to help ease anxiety, build confidence, and provide useful information or guidance.
A detailed assessment of the patient's respiratory function, breathing pattern, respiratory muscle function, and exercise capability is usually the first step in physiotherapy. Skeletal muscle function should be assessed in particular because it is a key obstacle to normal functioning in many respiratory patients. An evidence-based therapeutic plan is created based on this information mechanical devices such as intermittent positive-pressure and CPAP equipment, are commonly utilised by physiotherapists and have been in use since the mid-twentieth century. Physiotherapists now have a larger toolkit to choose from, thanks to a renewed interest in and sophistication of noninvasive ventilation treatments. Many people with lifethreatening respiratory failure can be successfully managed without intubation if they follow this protocol. Similarly, mucus clearance can be aided by correctly chosen devices. In pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, exercise equipment has long been employed; nonetheless, to improve the effectiveness of exercise training in respiratory patients, physiotherapists may utilise supplemental oxygen, noninvasive mechanical ventilation, sophisticated training modalities, or neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Specific inspiratory muscle training with resistive breathing is one specialized treatment that is used to reduce dyspnea in patients with inspiratory muscle weakness. In intensive care units, respiratory wards, outpatient clinics, and palliative care services, physiotherapists play a significant role. With the advent of domiciliary and hospital-at-home services, the role of physiotherapists is expanding as health services place a greater emphasis on chronic disease management and the maintenance of patient independence and function. Patients are increasingly managed in primary care settings, where appropriate. Physiotherapists, like their colleagues in other professions, should be more involved in addressing unhealthy behaviour (smoking, inactivity) in all aspects of healthcare. In the coming years, ensuring that these skills are mastered will be a critical educational goal.