Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Skills

Topics covered vary from year to year, but generally include:

• patient examination and assessment techniques, including thoracic imaging
• advanced physiotherapy skills, techniques and adjuncts
• clinical reasoning, integration of evidence
• use of manual, mechanical and exercise techniques, including positioning
• outcome measures
• the cardiopulmonary system in the context of neurological pathology, for example head or spinal cord injury
• medical and surgical problems including chronic lung disease, acute lung injury, sepsis and multi-organ failure, physiological effects of anaesthesia
• physiological basis for excess bronchial secretions, mucociliary clearance and the properties of sputum, airway clearance techniques
• breathing strategies, breathlessness and dysfunctional breathing, including management
• cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercise in the critically ill
• thoracic and cardiac surgery, including transplantation
• ventilatory support, sleep and positive pressure ventilation, including lung protection strategies non-invasive ventilation
• extended scope practice
• clinical cases and problems
• the cardiopulmonary system in the context of musculoskeletal problems, for example musculoskeletal thoracic pain, or problems resulting from chronic cardiorespiratory conditions