What is chest physiotherapy:Purpose,Types, Contraindications and More...

What is chest physiotherapy

Chest physiotherapy is a group of physical techniques which includes vibration,percussion, deep breathing and coughing that improve lungs function and help you feel better.It is the only one method to treat respiratory diseases.

What is the purposes of chest physiotherapy

The purpose of chest physiotherapy is:

Reduce airway obstruction

prevent the accumulation of secretion

Enhance gas exchange

Promote more efficient breathing patterns

Improve cardio pulmonary exercise tolerance.

What are the types of chest physiotherapy

some types of chest physiotherapy includes:

•Chest precautions - Percussion is done forcefully and with a steady beat. Each beat should have a hollow sound.

How to do:

It is performed over the chest to determine the presence of normal air content in the lungs, and over the abdomen to evaluate air in the loops of the intestine

• vibration -Vibration is a technique that gently shakes the mucus so it can move into the larger airways.

How to do:

The person performing places a firm hand on the chest wall over the part of the lung being drained and tenses the muscles of the arm and shoulder to create a fine shaking motion. Then, apply a light pressure over the area being vibrated. ( you can also do one hand over the other, then press the top and bottom hand into each other to vibrate).

•Deep breathing - it helps to expand the lungs and forces an improved distribution of the air into all sections of the lungs.Deep breathing exercises are done several times each day for short periods.

How to do:

The patient either sits in a chair or sits upright in bed and inhales, pushing the abdomen out to force maximum amounts of air into the lung. The abdomen is then contracted, and the patient exhales.

Coughing

Coughing helps to break up secretions in the lungs so that the mucus can be suctioned out if necessary.

How to do:

Patients sit upright and inhale deeply through the nose, then exhale in short puffs or coughs.

Indications of chest physiotherapy:

1. COPD-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a health condition that affects an individual’s ability to breathe well.It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

2.Neuromuscular disease-These disorders can cause your muscles to become weak and waste away (atrophy).

3.Lungs infection- which include pneumonia,acute bronchitis etc.

4. Surgery: Which includes lung removal and other surgery that makes it complication in deep breathing.

5.Atelectasis- in which some or all lung tissue collapsed.

Contraindications of chest physiotherapy:

It includes-

•Ribs fracture

•Failled chest

•Increased icp

•Active hemorrhage

•Anticoagulant therapy

‌•increased hypertension

‌• Unstable head and neck injury

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