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Role of Physiotherapist in Pulmonary Disease

Disease, illness and injuries are the main causes of pulmonary problems. Consequently, cardiopulmonary physiotherapists receive extensive training in diagnosing and treating patients with pulmonary or breathing disorders. Physiotherapy helps alleviate breathing problems by improving a patient’s lung function and capacity, as well as strength and stamina.

  1. Visual Assessment

    • According to The Physiotherapy Site, before treatment commences a physiotherapist typically reviews a patient’s medical records, followed by a visual assessment to evaluate her breathing capacity, level of difficulty breathing and skin coloring. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, oxygen deficiency can cause cyanosis, a condition marked by bluish skin as a result of below-normal blood oxygen levels. In this case, a physician may prescribe oxygen supplementation to bring them back into balance.

    Examination

    • The physiotherapist then performs a more extensive examination of the patient for problems not revealed by the visual evaluation. Feeling the patient's chest as she breathes provides information about pulmonary strength and its capacity for expansion, and a subsequent examination with a stethoscope enables the physiotherapist to discover any blockages or fluids in the airway.

    Patient Training

    • Blocked airways are potentially dangerous because they can cause deficiencies in blood oxygen levels. A physiotherapist typically first encourages a patient to use breathing exercises to help clear blockages formed by mucus, phlegm and sputum and then re-inflating collapsed airways. According to West Suffolk Hospitals, by teaching the breathing exercise known as the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique, the physiotherapist helps patients move phlegm up from the bottom of their lungs and expectorate it by huffing or coughing.

    Equipment Used

    • To treat pulmonary diseases that interfere with mucus transport, such as coughing, physiotherapists often train patients to use mechanical devices developed to assist with this function. An inspiratory flutter device, such as the CoughAssist, helps patients who have difficulty clearing secretions from their airways. According to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the CoughAssist machine increases the amount of air taken into the lungs on inspiration and “creates a sucking force that pulls air out of your lungs” on expiration. Consequently, using this device enables a patient to develop a stronger cough. According to The Physiotherapy Site, some patients do not get sufficient air in their lungs. To help alleviate this problem, a physiotherapist can use the Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing (IPPB) device, which helps increase a patient’s depth of breathing.

    Conditions Treated

    • Physiotherapists also treat a variety of chronic respiratory diseases, including cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to The Physiotherapy Site. Physiotherapists also treat respiratory problems stemming from neuromuscular diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, paralysis of the diaphragm, post-polio and quadriplegia, according to Aetna.

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