Physiotherapy in the intensive care unit

Abstract

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