effect of physiotherapy intervention on neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review of evidence in neonates

Background: a common and serious illness in preterm infants, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (nrds) is characterized by lung immaturity and inadequate surfactant production. objectives: this study evaluated the effectiveness of physiotherapy therapies in enhancing respiratory function and clinical outcomes in neonates suffering from nrds. methods: from the beginning to december 2024, searches were conducted using electronic databases, such as pubmed, scopus, embase, cochrane library, and cinahl. reference lists were manually searched in order to find additional records. randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental research involving preterm newborns (less than 37 weeks of gestation) with nrds who underwent physiotherapy interventions (such as reflex rolling, lung squeeze method, or chest physiotherapy) were eligible. studies that did not describe pertinent clinical or developmental results were excluded. the pedro scale for cross-sectional and experimental research and the newcastle–ottawa scale (nos) were used to evaluate the papers’ quality.results: nine trials involving 398 preterm newborns were included. although the interventions varied, they frequently focused on respiratory support. numerous investigations documented improved radiological results and shorter durations of mechanical ventilation.conclusions: in premature infants with nrds, physiotherapy may offer temporary respiratory advantages, and certain therapies may promote motor development.