Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
Assessment and intervention
Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy requires competence in respiratory assessment: observation, auscultation, percussion, and interpretation of spirometry and arterial blood gases. Understand obstructive versus restrictive patterns, and the significance of a low FEV1/FVC ratio in obstruction.
Airway clearance techniques include active cycle of breathing, autogenic drainage, positive expiratory pressure, and postural drainage. Know the indications and contraindications, especially in patients with haemoptysis, untreated pneumothorax, or cardiovascular instability. Exercise-based rehabilitation is central for COPD and cardiac patients; prescribe according to the FITT principle and monitor for desaturation, arrhythmia and breathlessness.
Traps
Items often test the difference between postural drainage positions and their target lobes, or the correct response to a patient desaturating during exercise (stop, reposition, administer oxygen per protocol, reassess). Another trap is performing percussion over the spine or fractured ribs. Watch for questions on the Borg scale and the target training intensity.
Worked example
A patient with COPD desaturates to 88% during walking. The correct reasoning: stop the activity, allow recovery, check technique and oxygen prescription, adjust intensity, and document. Rule of thumb: in cardiorespiratory care, assess before, monitor during, and reassess after every intervention.