Öz
Physiotherapy is a part of the multidisciplinary treatment in different intensive care units. Respiratory, cardiovascular and neuromusculoskeletal- focused physiotherapy programmes and prevention of the respiratory, neuromuscular complications which may be possible, developing the exercise capacity related to inspiratory muscle function in critically patients internalized and postoperative cases in intensive care unit are clinical targets. It is known that physiotherapy initiated early is reliable, practicable, cost effective to shorten the length of stay in intensive care and hospital. Besides, physiotherapy improves the effects of the medical treatments. Intensive care unit and patient type, available technology, acute or chronic prognosis of the disease, consciousness and expected benefit from physiotherapy are determinants of selecting physiotherapy approaches used in intensive care unit. Standard physiotherapy protocol consists of pulmonary physiotherapy, mobilization, ambulation and instrumental physiotherapy and current approaches vary associated with needs of case. Manual hyperinflation, prophylactic continuous lateral rotation, expiratuar flow increase technic (EFIT), supported arm exercise training, kinetic therapy, tilt table treatment, skeletal and pulmonary muscle training, bedside bisergo, and neromuscular electrical stimulation may be preferred by developing the programme. In some cases, approaches are need to be combined or modified within the limitations of the disease. Physiotherapy changes depending on the patient being conscious or unconscious, oriented or disoriented, sedatized or agitated status in intensive care unit. Rearranging the treatment by following symptomatic and functional recovery carefully and maintaining the approaches in preventive applications continuously are significant. Effectiveness and effects of physiotherapy are maximized by explaining the physiotherapy to the patient.
Key words: Intensive care, physiotherapy, length of stay