Chest Physiotherapy, often called CPT, is a technique through which the airway is cleared, usually involving the assistance of another individual.
Dive into this article and understand chest physiotherapy, who needs it, and how to practice it manually.
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Chest physiotherapy (CTP) is a collection of techniques to improve respiratory efficiency, promote lunch expansion, strengthen respiratory muscles, and clear lung and airway secretions.
These methods facilitate coughing up and ejecting mucus by helping to mobilize and release it from the airways. Consequently, opening the airways.
Patients recovering from surgery, those with long-term respiratory disorders, and those experiencing mucus clearance issues are all benefiting from this medication.
Individuals in the following categories may require chest physical therapy:
These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which cause the lungs to fill with mucus and become difficult to breathe. CPT facilitates mucus removal or lubrication.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs. CPT is essential for these patients to prevent infections and improve lung function.
Patients may have difficulty coughing effectively after surgery, especially thoracic or abdominal surgery due to pain, leading to mucus retention.
CPT aids in mobilizing and clearing these secretions:
A blockage of the airway results from diminished or blocked airflow into and out of the lungs. There are several possible causes for this, including:
Thick mucus or excessive mucus production can block airways. Mucus production is frequently elevated in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, and COPD.
Particularly in young toddlers, inhaling foreign items like food particles or tiny toys might suddenly clog their airways.
Allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections can enlarge and inflame the airways, making them narrower and less able to circulate air.
Different methods are used in chest physical therapy to promote breathing and remove mucus from the lungs. Among these methods are:
With the help of gravity, the patient is positioned in different ways to aid in the drainage of mucus from various lung regions. Depending on the afflicted lung segment, different postures are required.
Percussion involves rhythmically clapping the chest and back with cupped hands to loosen mucus from the walls of the airways. It is usually performed in conjunction with postural drainage.
Vibration is a gentle shaking of the chest wall using the hands or a mechanical device during exhalation to help move mucus toward the larger airways.
These exercises encourage full expansion of the lungs and can help in loosening and mobilizing mucus.
Effective coughing techniques and huffing ( a forced expiration technique) help in expelling mucus from the airways. Patients are taught to perform these techniques properly to maximize their effectiveness.
Devices like a Flutter-valve, acapella, or high-frequency chest wall oscillation vests can be used to enhance mucus clearance.
Neubilizers and inhalers can deliver medications directly to the lungs to reduce, thin mucus, and make it easier to clear.
The duration can vary depending on the patient’s condition, the severity of mucus build-up, and the specific techniques used. Generally, a typical session lasts between 20 to 40 minutes. For optimal results, patients may require multiple sessions per day.
Chest physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the management of various respiratory conditions by helping to clear mucus from the lungs, improving breathing, and preventing complications such as infections. For elderly patients, it becomes even more important to practice chest physiotherapy when it is required.
Generally, it is not painful, but some patients might find it painful. It also depends on how it is done or performed. Proper technique and communication with the therapist is of utmost importance.
Yes with proper training and guidance from a healthcare professional, many patients can perform chest physiotherapy at home.
When performed correctly, chest physiotherapy is generally safe, however, improper technique can cause discomfort.