Techniques of chest physiotherapy are one of the traditional methods used to get rid of chest and respiratory problems that some patients suffer from as a result of infection in the respiratory system or following surgeries related to the lung and respiratory system. Techniques of chest physiotherapy helps in improving the patient’s breathing and getting rid of excess mucus present in the chest.
What is chest physiotherapy?
Techniques of chest physiotherapy is considered one of the types of physical therapy for respiratory diseases that is used in some countries of the world, regardless of their classification. The reader may think that this type of treatment is found in developing countries, but on the contrary, it is found in some developed countries such as Australia.
Where physical therapists make successful attempts to improve the functions of the respiratory system and chest by cleaning the respiratory tract from excess risks through the technique of percussion with the palm of the hand on the patient’s back or by light pressure movements on the borders of the diaphragm to push the risks out towards the nose and mouth by expelling them.
These movements, which may be easy to perform, require experience and precise performance by those performing this technique to ensure the best results. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the medical center that provides this type of treatment is a reliable center to avoid any damage that may be caused by this type of treatment.
Traditional chest physiotherapy
Techniques of chest physiotherapy are one of the therapeutic methods that help improve lung function by getting rid of mucous secretions found in the lungs and respiratory tract. Techniques of chest physiotherapy are one of the most effective and good methods for many respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and asthma.
Purpose of Chest Physiotherapy
Techniques of chest physiotherapy are an effective treatment for getting rid of mucus and phlegm in the chest, which enhances the health of the respiratory system. The main chest physiotherapy purposes are:
- Getting rid of mucus secretions in the lungs, which causes difficulty breathing.
- This technique is used in chest surgeries as it helps patients breathe better.
- Improving the ability to breathe by getting rid of secretions that hinder the breathing process..
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7 techniques of chest physiotherapy
Techniques of chest physiotherapy offer a number of treatment options, some of these options are listed below;
Diaphragmatic breathing
If the diaphragm is functioning properly, the muscles consume less oxygen and it is easier to regulate breathing. If the muscles are needed for inhalation, the work of breathing increases. Patients can be taught to control their breathing by making optimal use of the diaphragm. Controlled breathing techniques are designed to improve ventilation efficiency, reduce the work of breathing, increase diaphragmatic displacement, and improve gas exchange.
Induced spirometry
In this method, the patient is actively guided toward maximum inspiration. The patient inhales through a spirometer, which provides visual or auditory feedback when the patient inhales as deeply as possible.
Glossopharyngeal breathing
is usually done by increasing the patient’s ability to inhale when there is severe muscle weakness to enable inhalation. This procedure helps patients who have difficulty taking a deep breath in preparation for coughing, for example. Patients with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of respiratory complications, so they are taught this technique.
Pursed-lip breathing
is a useful technique involving quiet, controlled exhalation of the airways. This technique keeps the airways open by applying back pressure to the airways. It is often used in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can reduce respiratory rate and increase expiratory volume while increasing the ability to tolerate more complex exercise.
Postural drainage
is a method of using gravity to position the patient and assist in the natural airway clearance mechanisms. Postural drainage is the removal of secretions from one or more parts of the lungs into the central airways by coughing or mechanical suctioning. Techniques such as percussion and vibration are used, as well as spontaneous coughing.
Percussion
The purpose of percussion, also known as percussion, clapping, or tapping, is to apply intermittent kinetic energy to the chest and lung walls. This is done by rhythmically tapping the chest with a hollow hand or mechanical device and directly hitting the drainage areas of the lungs.
vibration
One of the most prominent techniques used in chest physical therapy is that it helps the patient breathe better. At Lana Life Care, we help patients perform these techniques easily, thanks to our extensive experience.
Benefits of chest physiotherapy
It is worth noting that there are many benefits to techniques of chest physiotherapy, as it helps get rid of many chest and respiratory diseases, which helps to breathe better. Among the most prominent benefits of techniques of chest physiotherapy are the following:
Improving Clearance
One of the most important roles of techniques of chest physiotherapy is to increase mucus clearance when dealing with respiratory diseases. Respiratory diseases are caused by the accumulation of sticky mucus in the organs and blocking the airways, leading to bronchial congestion.
Mucus formation
is particularly troublesome for patients with diseases that produce large amounts of mucus, such as cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.
Improving lung function
Another important benefit of techniques of chest physiotherapy for respiratory diseases is increasing lung capacity: In diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pneumonia, the lungs become constricted, reducing the amount of air they can hold and inhale. As a result, the lungs become less able to absorb oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, leading to decreased respiratory efficiency, and patients experience shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and a decreased overall quality of life.
Preventing respiratory infections
Respiratory infections caused by bacteria and viruses are expected complications of COPD and other chronic lung diseases. Bacteria and viruses tend to multiply when mucus stagnates, increasing the likelihood of symptoms such as pneumonia and bronchitis. These infections are very harmful in COPD, leading to hospitalization and poor overall health.
Improving exercise capacity
Exercise capacity is often reduced in people with respiratory diseases due to symptoms such as reduced lung capacity, shortness of breath, and fatigue. These complications can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which further complicates the situation, leading to muscle wasting and poor overall health.
Improving quality of life
Chronic respiratory disease is a medical condition that significantly impacts a person’s quality of life. Symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent cough, pain, fatigue, and recurring illness, which together affect the ability to perform daily tasks, socialize, and enjoy life. It can lead to frustration, anxiety, and, in the worst cases, depression in affected individuals.
Risks of chest physiotherapy
As with any medical procedure, techniques of chest physiotherapy involve risks;
- You may experience pain, muscle damage, or damage to your ribs and spine.
- Your blood oxygen levels may become low (hypoxemia).
- Other complications that may occur include an irregular heartbeat.
- Severely low blood pressure.
- Severe bleeding in the lungs.
- Increased airway pressure in the head.
- Airway spasms Convulsions Vomiting.
The Lana Life Care team will closely monitor you while you undergo home physiotherapy. Any signs of complications will be addressed promptly to protect your health.
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Conditions Treated with Chest Physiotherapy
Techniques of chest physiotherapy are usually recommended for patients who are unable to cough.
- Asthma: Inflammation of the airways causes shortness of breath.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Aggravated lung disease causes shortness of breath.
- Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes causes coughing and chest congestion.
- Cystic fibrosis: This inherited disorder causes a buildup of sticky mucus in the lungs.
- Pneumonia: A lung infection that causes fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
- Postoperative respiratory complications: Breathing problems after surgery, including collapsed lungs and infection.
Chest Physiotherapy Contraindications
Despite the many benefits we mentioned for techniques of chest physiotherapy, there are physiotherapy contraindications, including:
- Unstable angina.
- Irregular heartbeat: Irregular heartbeats are referred to as arrhythmias. Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) develop when the electrical signals that regulate the heartbeat are disturbed.
- Unstable vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation Lung tumors Recent myocardial infarction (also known as a heart attack) a major concerns before treatment Head and neck injury Intracranial hypertension Intracranial hypertension Pulmonary embolism Surgical wound Rib fracture Uncontrolled high blood pressure Subcutaneous emphysema
How Long Does CPT Take?
Each physiotherapy sessions typically lasts 20 to 40 minutes.CPT should be done before or 1 1/2 to 2 hours after a meal to reduce the likelihood of vomiting. Treatment is usually recommended early in the morning or before bedtime. If nasal congestion or illness occurs, the time and frequency of CPT may need to be increased. Your CF doctor or respiratory therapist can recommend which positions to use, how often, and for how long to do CPT.
Chest physiotherapy devices
There are many devices used in techniques of chest physiotherapy, including the following:
1. Positive expiratory pressure devices (PEP)
Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices, such as masks help clear the lungs. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) allows you to breathe in freely, but there is resistance when you breathe out. To overcome this resistance, you need to breathe out more forcefully and for four times as long as you breathe in. This helps move the mucus and keep the airway open.
2. Oscillating PEP
Like regular PEP devices, this device allows for easy breathing in and resistance to breathing out. However, the PEP device also oscillates (oscillates) during breathing out, moving mucus from the peripheral and middle airways to the central airways.
After several exhalations, the patient is asked to cough or inhale to completely clear the mucus from the lungs; both sessions with expandable (oscillating and non-oscillating) PEP devices take about 20 minutes or 20 breaths, depending on the degree of mucus buildup.
Chest physiotherapy techniques at home with Lana Life Care
It is worth noting that there are many techniques of chest physiotherapy that are used in treatment, and at Lana Life Care Center we are keen to provide the best services in physical therapy by using effective techniques and devices to get rid of chest and respiratory problems.
We have a highly trained team capable of relieving patients’ pain using the latest methods in chest physical therapy, such as Chest physiotherapy Slideshare.
Conclusion
In conclusion, techniques of chest physiotherapy is an effective technique that helps patients breathe better, by expelling excess mucus secretions using specialized devices. At Lana Life Care, we provide you with the necessary care to perform chest physical therapy and obtain the necessary medical supervision.
FAQ
How many types of chest physiotherapy are there?
There are seven effective techniques of chest physiotherapy that we mentioned in detail in the previous paragraphs.
What are vibration techniques?
It is one of the effective techniques in chest physical therapy as it helps the patient breathe better.
