Respiratory physiotherapy involves helping patients who are having difficulty with their breathing. Treatment may include advice and education on different breathing techniques, and instruction and assistance with coughing and clearing secretions from their chest.
Patients might need respiratory physiotherapy after heart or lung surgery or because of a medical condition such as bronchiectasis or Cystic Fibrosis.
Physiotherapy services can be used at all stages of disease, from early diagnosis, through chronic illness, to acute episodes and care at the terminal stage.
The physiotherapist’s role in patient care includes assessment, advice, education and hands-on intervention. They aim to:
- Maintain or improve exercise tolerance
- Improve functional abilities (i.e. carrying out daily tasks)
- Maintain and improve physical activity, coaching patients toward improving healthy behaviour
- Reduce breathlessness and the work of breathing
- Support weaning from mechanical ventilation
- Mobilise and aid the expectoration of secretions (coughing up of mucus)
- Improve knowledge and understanding
- Reduce pain
Our physiotherapists have a wide range of experience and are qualified in all aspects of physiotherapy and are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
There is a wide range of patient information leaflets that can be accessed via the Patient Information Leaflet page.
Key resources
Pulmonary rehab exercises
Our physiotherapy team demonstrate 10 pulmonary rehab exercises that you can do from the comfort of your own home.