Physiotherapy efectiveness

Introduction

Physiotherapy is a non-pharmacological treatment modality aimed at reducing pain, improving physical function, and enhancing the overall quality of life for patients with various conditions. This synthesis examines the effectiveness of physiotherapy across different patient populations and conditions, including critical illness, Parkinson's disease, musculoskeletal injuries, and respiratory conditions.

Key Insights

Critical Illness and ICU Patients
- Physiotherapy targets deconditioning, impaired airway clearance, and weaning failure in critically ill patients, though evidence from randomized controlled trials is limited .
- Continuous physiotherapy care (24 hours/day) in ICU settings reduces mechanical ventilation duration, ICU stay, respiratory infections, and mortality compared to limited physiotherapy care (6 hours/day).
Parkinson's Disease
- Physiotherapy significantly improves gait velocity, functional mobility, balance, and clinician-rated disability in Parkinson's disease patients over the short term (less than three months).
- No significant differences were found between different types of physiotherapy interventions (e.g., general physiotherapy, exercise, treadmill training) in terms of treatment effect.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Physiotherapy, including manual therapies, electrophysical agents, and graded exercise, is effective in managing chronic musculoskeletal conditions like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
- For ankylosing spondylitis, home exercise programs are better than no intervention, supervised group physiotherapy is better than home exercises, and combined spa-exercise therapy followed by group physiotherapy is most effective.
Respiratory Conditions
- Chest physiotherapy does not significantly improve disease severity, respiratory parameters, or reduce hospital stay in infants with acute bronchiolitis.
- Early physiotherapy in respiratory intensive care units aims to enhance functional capacity and reduce bed rest complications, though more research is needed to confirm long-term benefits.
Emergency Department and Peripheral Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Primary contact physiotherapy in emergency departments reduces patient length of stay and waiting times without increasing adverse effects compared to secondary contact physiotherapy.
Special Cases
- Physiotherapy can effectively treat post-infection cranial nerve damage, leading to rapid resolution of muscle paralysis and diplopia.
- For survivors of torture, physiotherapy can relieve severe pain, dysfunction, and stress, especially for those unable to speak about their experiences.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy is a versatile and effective treatment modality for various conditions, including critical illness, Parkinson's disease, musculoskeletal injuries, and respiratory conditions. It improves functional outcomes, reduces hospital stays, and enhances the quality of life for patients. However, the effectiveness of specific physiotherapy techniques and long-term benefits require further research.

Physiotherapy efectiveness

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Physiotherapy for adult patients with critical illness: recommendations of the European Respiratory Society and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Task Force on Physiotherapy for Critically Ill Patients

Physiotherapy is effective in treating deconditioning, impaired airway clearance, atelectasis, intubation avoidance, and weaning failure in critically ill adult patients, but more guidelines are needed for individual treatment prescription and education.

Physiotherapy versus placebo or no intervention in Parkinson's disease.

Physiotherapy significantly improves gait, mobility, and balance in Parkinson's disease patients, but does not significantly affect falls or quality of life.

When is physiotherapy appropriate?

Physiotherapy effectively reduces pain and improves physical functioning in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis involving peripheral joints.

Physiotherapy interventions for ankylosing spondylitis.

Physiotherapy interventions, such as home exercise programs, supervised group physiotherapy, and combined spa-exercise therapy, show potential in improving pain, stiffness, spinal mobility, and physical function in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Physiotherapy in Postinfection Injury to Cranial Nerves III, IV, and VI: A Case Study

Physiotherapy can effectively resolve extraocular muscle paralysis and diplopia in patients with damage to cranial nerves III and VI after failed pharmacological treatment.

Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old.

Chest physiotherapy does not improve disease severity, respiratory parameters, or reduce hospital stay or oxygen requirements in infants with acute bronchiolitis not on mechanical ventilation.

Primary contact physiotherapy in emergency departments can reduce length of stay for patients with peripheral musculoskeletal injuries compared with secondary contact physiotherapy: a prospective non-randomised controlled trial.

Primary contact physiotherapy in emergency departments can reduce waiting times and length of stay for patients with peripheral musculoskeletal injuries without increasing adverse effects.

Physiotherapy for Survivors of Torture

Physiotherapy can effectively relieve severe pain, dysfunction, and stress in survivors of torture, especially for those unable to speak about their experiences.

Chest physiotherapy effectiveness to reduce hospitalization and mechanical ventilation length of stay, pulmonary infection rate and mortality in ICU patients.

24 hour physiotherapy in ICUs significantly reduces mechanical ventilation support need, hospitalization days, respiratory infection incidence, and mortality risk compared to 6 hour physiotherapy.

Early physiotherapy in the respiratory intensive care unit.

Early physiotherapy may be effective in respiratory intensive care units, but more research is needed on its long-term effects and the effectiveness of specific techniques.

Try another search