Chest physiotherapy relates to the assessment and treatment of people with disorders of the respiratory system and involves an airway clearance technique to drain the lungs, and may include percussion (clapping), vibration, deep breathing, and huffing or coughing. These techniques help mobilize or loose secretions in the lungs and respiratory tract. This is especially helpful for patients with large amount of secretions or ineffective cough.
The removal of obstructive, thick sticky secretions is important in preventing infections and helps ease breathing.
This can be taught by the physiotherapist and performed by members of the family.
If you are in hospital for any operation you will be visited after the operation by a physiotherapist to check your lungs are working normally and to advise you to keep your legs moving. If the surgery involves the chest at all then the physiotherapist will take an active role in making sure that you are breathing correctly and that you can perform an adequate cough.
If you have any condition of the lung such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema or chest infection you may be offered chest physiotherapy. Depending on what position you can tolerate this will normally involve lying on each side and if possible slightly tipped so that your chest is lower than your hips i.e. lying over a few pillows. This position allows postural drainage which is basically allowing gravity to aid the movement of the secretions (mucus) to the main airway where it can be removed by productive coughing.