Physiotherapy in the intensive care unit

Abstract

While physiotherapy has been recommended by scientific societies asintegral to the management of critically ill patients, great variation hasbeen reported in the role of the physiotherapist in the intensive care unit(ICU), the service provided and the techniques used.[1] Clearly, this mayimpact on patient outcome. In a bid to address these variations, ICUphysiotherapists have taken the initiative to drive a research agenda andto standardise clinical pathways to facilitate optimal patient outcome.Â