A physiotherapist assesses, treats, monitors, follows and cares for patients with lung and heart disorders. Breathing disorders targeted by physiotherapy include asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, chest trauma as well as cardiac-induced respiratory failure. Physiotherapy for respiratory conditions includes basic chest physiotherapy, which aims to provide:
- assistance for airway clearance – using chest physiotherapy
- optimum functional capacity – catering for the patient’s full functioning
- problem oriented care – finding out what the cause of the problem is and then managing the discovered problem
- holistic management – patient is seen as a whole, where not the initial complaint is targeted, but anything else associated with the same patient, thus, a patient requiring basic chest physiotherapy may also be provided with assistance regarding obesity, nutrition and lifestyle changes
Physiotherapy for respiratory conditions challenges include:
- inability to clear chest
- inability to breathe easily
- reduced exercise tolerance
- reduced lung capacity
- reduced functional capacity
- poor self management due to being unable to function normally
Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) provides a method for bronchial hygiene by:
- Turning
- Postural drainage
- Chest percussion and vibration
- Specialised cough techniques a.k.a. directed cough
These strategies help in reducing dyspnoea, improving ventilation and perfusion and increasing respiratory function by causing bronchial secretions to move to the central airway via gravity.
NOTE: CPT is contraindicated for asthma patients. Instead, a different technique is used for asthma where the patient is encouraged to huff instead (as if misting a mirror with their breath).
CPT Indications:
- poor exercise tolerance
- decreased mobility
- potential postural deformities
- mucus plugging causing acute lung or lobar collapse
- increased secretions or secretion retention affecting respiration
Low secretion level should be targeted by gentle methods of excretion; High secretion level should be targeted by tougher methods which provide more efficacy, whilst taking into consideration how frail the patient is.
NOTE: With reference to the above positions, patients who have undergone gastric surgery, facial surgery or cardiac surgery, as well as the elderly or the frail, SHOULD NOT be positioned tipping down.
Vibrations vs Shakings: Vibrations are gentler than shakings; shakings are of high magnitude, thus vibrations are preferred where the patient is frail eg. elderly or has osteoporosis.
Manual Hyperinflation: an ambubag is used to expand lung eg. if lung has collapsed. In case of secretions, the use of an ambubag is combined with shakings to clear secretions.
With reference to the above image:
Breathing Exercises Cycle ACBT helps with reducing heart rate, reducing anxiety and reducing respiratory rate;
Breathing Control: small breaths that are controlled; help expand lungs
Thoracic Expansion: larger breaths; Sitting low limits breathing capacity; breathe deeper to encourage more air into the alveoli…air seeps behind secretions and mobilises them when breathing out
FET Forced Expiratory Technique: completes cycle by facilitating excretion of secretions
Physiotherapy in the ITU Setting
Patients in acute, critical and ITU setting are in poor health conditions. It is indicated that with every day spent in bed, patients lose 30% of their muscle fibers. Physiotherapy for respiratory conditions in such settings is focused on:
- Deconditioning – reversible changes in the body due to lack of physical activity.
- Impaired Airway Clearance – poses risk for the patient to develop an infection, major atelectasis and other related problems such as impaired gas exchange and airflow limitation.
- Atelectasis – a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or lobe of the lung due to alveoli deflating or possible filling with alveolar fluid; Atelectasis is one of the most common respiratory complications post surgery.
- Intubation avoidance – insertion of an endotracheal tube through the mouth and into the airway for ventilation purposes; assists with breathing during anesthesia, sedation, or severe illness.
- Weaning failure – failure in reducing ventilatory support, where patient is unable to breathe spontaneously and so cannot be extubated.
Physiotherapy for respiratory conditions improves respiration through airway clearance and improvement in gas exchange, as well as muscle function through the prevention of muscle atrophy, loss of strength, loss of muscle fiber, and polyneuropathies (peripheral neuropathy / damage of multiple nerves).
In ITU setting, pulmonary infections can happen due to ventilator acquired pneumonia and through lobar atelectasis. Prevention of lung collapse is also very important in ITU setting. Techniques mentioned further above help increase lung expansion. Upkeep of the respiratory system helps in avoiding late development of complications.
Pulmonary exacerbation can lead to:
- muscle weakness
- haemoglobin reduction
- reduction in testosterone levels in both males and females
- hypoxia
- systemic inflammation
- possible concomitant heart failure
Paediatric Physiotherapy for Respiratory Conditions
Physiotherapy can be initiated from as early as a few days after birth. In intensive care, physiotherapy can reduce the risks associated with endotracheal tube obstruction.
In short term treatment, the main aim is that of eliminating obstructive secretions from the airway, which reduces breathing work, improves efficiency of mechanical ventilation, improves gas exchange, prevents or resolves complications, leading to early weaning from ventilator use.
In long term treatment, the main aim is that of preventing postural deformities, improving tolerance to exercise and providing better quality of life.
A ventilated paediatric patient risks:
- ventilator associated pneumonia
- oxygen toxicity
- hyperinflation
- atelectasis
- impaired mucociliary clearance
- decreased funcitonal residual capacity (FRC)
- endotracheal tube insertion
- inadequate humidification of vent gases leading to increased secretions which then cause obstruction, infection, atelectasis = chronic disease.
Paediatric breathing mechanics are different. Babies are more fragile and need to be treated in a more gentle way. Constant monitoring and lung clearance help in avoiding the development of ventilator associated pneumonia. Oxygen should be monitored frequently as excessive oxygen in babies can cause blindness, mental and brain related problems.
Physiotherapy is contraindicated (unless advised otherwise) in:
- very premature babies
- unstable / severely ill child
- pulmonary haemorrhage
- pulmonary oedema
- pulmonary hypertension
- raised intracranial pressure
- platelet count less than 50 (in less than 100 it may be indicated with extra care)
NOTE: Bronchiolitis is a very common condition affecting babies up to around 4 years of age. Bronchiolitis restricts respiratory function.
Palliative Care
If a patient has no possible treatment option (such as in lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, COPD), quality of life can still be improved through physiotherapy. It helps the patient to cope and live comfortably with his/her condition.
Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to physiotherapy for respiratory conditions.
Postural Drainage Technique
Chest Percussion
Percussion and Vibration Technique
Effective Coughing Technique
Manual Hyperinflation
Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT)
Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP)
Flutter
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Segmental Expansion
Glossopharyngeal Breathing
Pursed Lip Breathing
COPD Patient Using Accessory Muscles of Respiration
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Special thanks to the creators of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channels Metro Physical Therapy, NHS University Hospitals Plymouth Physiotherapy, Physio Keeps You Moving, mmfllws 1, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, KP’s OUR HEALTH HELPING YOU TO HELP YOURSELVES, CANVent Ottawa, American Lung Association, Doctors Hub and Ascension Via Christi.
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Claire is keen about public education on health-related subjects as well as holistic patient-centered care. She is also passionate about spreading awareness on the negative effects that domestic abuse leaves on its victims’ mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
Claire aspires to continue studying following completion of her Nursing Degree, because she truly believes in lifelong education.
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