Respiratory Conditions & Care
Respiratory physiotherapy, also known as chest physiotherapy, is a specialised area of physiotherapy that focuses on assessing and treating disorders of the respiratory system, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, COVID and many more.
Our dedicated team of experienced physiotherapists is here to guide you on your journey to optimal lung function. Whether you are seeking preventive care, managing a respiratory condition, or recovering from an illness, we are committed to providing personalised and evidence-based respiratory physiotherapy services.
The goal of respiratory physiotherapy is to optimise lung function, improve breathing mechanics, and enhance overall respiratory health. This branch of physiotherapy is often crucial in managing various respiratory conditions and promoting general well-being.
Respiratory Care Services
- Comprehensive Assessment: Our first step is to conduct a thorough assessment of your respiratory function. Our skilled physiotherapists use various assessment techniques, such as listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, endurance testing (such as the 6 minute walk test), testing your coughing ability, thoracic cage assessments, mobility assessments and more. This enables us to tailor a personalised treatment plan to address your specific needs.
- Individualised Treatment Plans: Every individual is unique, and so are their respiratory health needs. Our team creates customised treatment plans that may include breathing exercises, airway clearance techniques, aerobic and therapeutic exercises to improve lung function and respiratory muscle strength.
- Education and Lifestyle Management: Understanding your respiratory health is crucial for long-term well-being. We provide education on maintaining healthy lung habits and lifestyle modifications that can positively impact your breathing. This can include education around smoking and vaping, workplace hazards, effective stress management techniques and activity education. We empower you to take control of your respiratory health.
What are some common respiratory conditions that we treat?
- Asthma: Asthma is a chronic condition that intermittently restricts the airways, making breathing difficult. Our physiotherapy interventions focus on managing symptoms through breathing and relaxation techniques, improving respiratory muscle strength, improving endurance and education on long term management.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): COPD encompasses conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Our team specialises in creating comprehensive COPD management plans which includes aerobic exercise training, pursed lipped breathing, airway clearance, diaphragmatic breathing and lifestyle modification.
- Respiratory Infections: From common colds to more severe respiratory infections, like pneumonia. Our physiotherapists are equipped to provide relief and support during recovery. We offer techniques to remove secretions, maintain airway clearance, improve lung capacity and ease breathing stress.
- Post-Surgery Respiratory Care: For individuals recovering from surgeries, such as thoracotomies, laparotomies, and others, our physiotherapy services aid in regaining optimal lung function, reducing complications, and accelerating the recovery process.
- Trauma: Respiratory physiotherapy plays a significant role in the management of physical trauma, particularly when injuries involve the respiratory system or compromise breathing function, such as rib fractures or chest bruising. We help encourage normal lung function while healing from these injuries.
- COVID-19: While the pandemic may be over, COVID is still present as a contagious respiratory infection. Physiotherapy helps to maintain oxygen levels, remove secretions and maintain airways, and work on diaphragmatic breathing and lung compliance. Physiotherapy also plays an important role in long COVID. These are the persisting symptoms even after you have had COVID. Physiotherapy helps with cardiovascular fitness, muscle strengthening, pacing strategies and self management education. This overall helps to improve symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, muscle weakness, and immobility amongst others.
Respiratory physiotherapy is beneficial for both preventive care and existing respiratory issues. It offers education, lifestyle modifications, and exercises to maintain optimal lung health and reduce the risk of respiratory problems.
Session durations vary but typically last around 30-60 minutes. The number of sessions depends on the individual’s condition and progress, with ongoing assessment guiding the treatment plan.
Yes, respiratory physiotherapy is applicable to children with conditions like asthma or bronchiolitis. Paediatric respiratory physiotherapists use age-appropriate techniques to improve respiratory function in children.
Prioritise lung health for vitality and longevity. Healthy lungs empower every breath, sustaining life’s journey.
Our Step by Step Approach
- Find the source of your injury (or recurrent injuries)
- Correct the source to alleviate the site of your pain
- Change/optimise your movement patterns
- Integrate these improvements into your sports action (often in conjunction with your technical coach)
- Maintain optimal movement patterns to improve performance and reduce risk of future injury
Prescriptive exercises will be provided during each session and then emailed to you afterwards using the GrooviMovements Physio Software Exercise program, allowing you to easily follow how to perform and progress each exercise.