People with Chronic Lung Disease

In chronic lung disease, medical treatment sits at the centre. Respiratory physiotherapy runs alongside it, not instead of it.

A familiar vicious circle appears in chronic respiratory conditions: breathlessness leads to avoiding movement, inactivity reduces muscle mass and conditioning, reduced conditioning means the same task demands more oxygen, and breathlessness arrives sooner. The person moves less and less.

The main aim of respiratory physiotherapy in this group is to interrupt that circle. The programme is not simply breathing exercises; exercise training, breathing techniques, airway clearance, energy conservation and disease management education run together.

Which diagnoses?

• COPD — where air trapping, breathlessness and exercise limitation dominate
• Asthma — intermittent narrowing; breathing retraining runs alongside medication
• Bronchiectasis — where secretion management is central
• Cystic fibrosis — requiring regular airway clearance
• Interstitial lung diseases — supporting exercise capacity
• Chronic bronchitis — cough and sputum management
• Lung transplantation — before and after

What is worked on

• Coping with breathlessness: pursed-lip breathing, relieving positions, managing panic
• Airway clearance: ACBT, autogenic drainage or PEP devices for people with secretions
• Exercise training: a graded programme with pulse and saturation monitoring
• Inspiratory muscle training: resistance work for those found suitable on measurement
• Energy conservation: adjustments so daily tasks cost less breath
• Education: inhaler technique and early recognition of exacerbations

During exacerbations

During an exacerbation the programme is paused or its content revised. That decision is made together with your doctor.

Recognising the early signs of an exacerbation is part of the programme: sputum darkening, a marked increase in its volume, breathlessness rising above its usual level, fever and general malaise. With those findings, see your doctor rather than continuing physiotherapy.

Treatments used in this group

Frequently Asked Questions