Good Physiotherapy treatment helps cure COPD

Posted by Arjun Viswanath on January 4th, 2017

If you were recently diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD, your doctor may recommend physiotherapy treatment—and for good reason. Whether you’re suffering from chronic bronchitis, small airways disease, emphysema, you can benefit from a pulmonary rehabilitation programme—a big part of which is physiotherapy. Good physiotherapy treatment as part of an intensive and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme is an effective intervention for people who are chronically restricted or incapacitated by obstructive pulmonary disease. 

How can physiotherapy help patients with COPD? 

Physiotherapy may be able to significantly improve the health of a patient by reducing breathlessness. If you have a tendency to hyperventilate or have difficulty clearing phlegm from your chest, for example, a physiotherapist can teach you breathing techniques, provide you advice, pacing your activities, and recommend other ways of coping. To get the best results, work with someone who specialises in respiratory physio. You want a therapist that is highly skilled in treating patients with breathing conditions. 

What can I expect during physiotherapy? 

Your first session will likely include a detailed assessment. The therapist will give you advice and in some cases, a physical treatment right away. Be sure to dress comfortably. 

There is currently no treatment for COPD, and this condition is not reversible. The goal of physiotherapy is to help you manage your disease and increase your quality of life despite it. If you are a smoker, you will likely be advised to quit. The therapist can recommend support groups to help you along. The physiotherapist may also teach you coping skills, such as how to do chores more efficiently to prevent breathlessness, how to deal with air pollution, how to relieve symptoms, etc. 

More importantly, a physiotherapist can plan a graduated exercise programme that is suitable for you. Staying active and improving your exercise tolerance may help slow the progress of the disease. Depending on your case, you may also be given physical treatment. Postural drainage may be necessary. Clapping and shaking are also effective at loosening and moving secretions to the central airways during expiration.

Breathing exercises are another essential component for physiotherapy treatment for COPD. You may be taught diaphragmatic breathing and relaxed expiration, as well as pursed lip breathing and prolonged expiration (depending on your needs). 

Posture correction is also essential. Your physiotherapist will teach you how to achieve maximum relaxation of your upper chest and movements of your lower chest. Thoracic mobility exercises are also used alongside shoulder girdle movements. They both help to prevent fixed inspiration and kyphosis. 

About the Author: 

This article is written by Arjun Viswanath, the Clinic Director of London Physiotherapy and Wellness Clinic. London Physiotherapy and Wellness Clinic is an outpatient rehabilitation centre. Their staff includes clinical specialist physiotherapists and sports therapists. Their therapists have worked with all age groups and successfully helped them to recover from their injuries easily. They also offer special programs for youth athletics as well as for pregnant women.