Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care: A problem-solving approach to respiratory and cardiac management

Updated and expanded to incorporate recent research and more illustrations, this work on physiotherapy in respiratory care offers a problem-solving approach with the aim of providing clarity of thought and a challenge to traditional assumptions. A major feature is the extensive reference list, and there is a recommended reading list at the end of each chapter. The relationship between physiology, accurate assessment and practice lays the foundation for problem-solving in the first two chapters, and physiological reasoning continues throughout the book, which is mainly devoted to coverage of physiotherapy management and its rationale. This is based on three main problems: reduced lung-volume, breathlessness, and sputum retention. There is a section on pain management which questions the belief that chest physiotherapy need be painful, and advice on the management of on-calls and emergencies. Other topics include the pathophysiology of respiratory diseases and their medical management, people with hyperventilation syndrome, children, and pulmonary rehabilitation, on which this edition places extra emphasis on home management. Outcome measures and critical review are themes throughout, and the final chapter focuses exclusively on the evaluation of practice.