Physiotherapy in PCD: Individualized Care in Focus

Physiotherapeutic treatment plays a crucial role in the care of patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). This rare genetic disease is characterized by chronic secretion retention in the airways, which over time can lead to severe lung damage. A comprehensive review article on current physiotherapeutic management in PCD has now been published in the journal Pneumologie. The article was authored by an interdisciplinary team of physicians and therapists. The senior author is Prof. Dr. Felix C. Ringshausen, DZL scientist at the BREATH site and recognized PCD expert. As a senior physician at the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Hannover Medical School (MHH), he has been caring for numerous patients with this rare condition for many years.

The authors highlight both established and novel physiotherapeutic approaches to provide an overview of the current state of care and opportunities for therapeutic optimization in PCD. The review emphasizes that improving quality of life and participation of affected individuals is increasingly moving into focus. In particular, the article underlines the importance of structured, long-term, and individually tailored therapy.

Three aspects from the article deserve special emphasis:

• Inhalation therapy combined with targeted airway clearance techniques form the cornerstone of physiotherapeutic management. They help improve mucociliary clearance and prevent infections.
• Regular physical activity is essential for patients. It should be actively encouraged to maintain physical performance and enhance quality of life.
• Respiratory support devices, self-management training, and the involvement of specialized therapists can significantly improve therapy adherence, ultimately leading to better long-term clinical outcomes.

Felix Ringshausen stresses: “High-quality care for people with PCD must be holistic and individualized. This means we need to further standardize, evaluate, and better integrate physiotherapeutic measures into healthcare structures.”

Together with its partners in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Lung Information Service, BREATH is committed to developing and implementing innovative care approaches for rare lung diseases such as PCD – always with the everyday realities of those affected in mind.

Source: BREATH