Chest Physio

Chest Physiotherapy

The goal of chest physiotherapy is to help clear the airways, making it easier for your child to breath by improving lung volumes and flow of oxygen. It can help speed up the resolution of respiratory illness and help prevent recurrent infections.

Chest physiotherapy comprises a number of manual techniques and breathing exercises which help to first loosen the mucous and then facilitate clearance from the airways. 

I use a combination of these techniques based on your child’s age and presentation. 

Techniques that may be used include:

• Nebulization to help loosen the mucous or open airways

• Percussion's and vibrations to the chest wall to physically agitate and loosen thick mucous. 

• Postural drainage, Autogenic drainage, and specific breathing techniques such as PEEP blowing which help to facilitate the movement of mucous from the smaller airways to the larger airways to be expelled.

• Rib springing, lung squeezing, tracheal rub, facilitated coughing or suction, which help to expel and remove the mucous from the lungs. 

• Saline washout and suction of stuffy noses or sinuses

When does someone need chest physio 

• Any respiratory infection that has spread to the lungs causing a wet sounding cough.

• Lingering cough post chest infection

• Stuffy noses or sinus congestion

• Chronic secretion retention in conditions such as cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis

• Difficulty with clearing the airways independently, usually in children with certain neurological conditions, or any condition associated low muscle tone or a poor cough reflex. 

Some conditions commonly seen include: 

• Persistent coughing

• Cystic fibrosis

• Bronchiectasis

• Pneumonia 

• Bronchitis (post acute)

• Asthma 

• Chronic "chestiness" or recurrent aspiration pneumonia in children with reflux or cough impairment related to low muscle tone