Postural drainage

When refering to evidence in academic writing, you should always try to reference the primary (original) source. That is usually the journal article where the information was first stated. In most cases Physiopedia articles are a secondary source and so should not be used as references. Physiopedia articles are best used to find the original sources of information (see the references list at the bottom of the article). If you believe that this Physiopedia article is the primary source for the information you are refering to, you can use the button below to access a related citation statement. Cite article Contents • 1 Introduction • 2 Equipments Required For Percussion • 3 Preparation For Percussion • 4 Technique And Treatment With Percussion • 4.1 Positions For Chest Percussion • 5 Guidelines • 6 Indications And Contraindications • 7 Advantages And Disadvantages Of Percussion • 8 Chest Percussion As A Diagnostic Tool • 9 Key Evidence • 10 References Introduction [ | ] Percussion is a manual technique used by respiratory physiotherapists to improve airway clearance by mobilizing secretions in one or more lung segments to the central airways. Percussion over an affected area produces an energy wave, which is transmitted to the lungs and airways. It is performed with the aim of loosening thick, sticky or retained secretions from the chest wall Percussion can be performed in two ways- • Manual Percussion • Mechanical Percussion Percussion is often a beneficial manual techniqu...

Patrick Heagney/Getty Images It is important to note that some positions may cause an increase of heartburn and acid reflux and/or vomiting, particularly when the head is lower than the stomach. Not only can this cause discomfort and wheezing, it can lead to a lung infection if there is any vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider about alternative methods of clearing airways.

• Learn More • Breathing Techniques • Coping with Airway Mucus • Coping with Nausea • Diagnostic Testing and Evaluation • Exacerbations • Exercise • Hospital to Home • Inhaled Medicines • Newly Diagnosed • Nutrition • Oxygen Therapy • Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Lung Infections • Pulmonary Rehab • Travel • Treatment • Glossary • Educational Videos • Research Manual Airway Clearance Techniques Chronic cough is a major symptom of bronchiectasis. This is caused by too much mucus in the lungs and expanded airways that makes it hard to cough out the mucus. Tiny hair-like structures in the lungs, called cilia, move mucus out of the small airways. In bronchiectasis, the cilia are often damaged because of a thickening of the airway wall. This also makes it difficult to cough out mucus. As an individual with bronchiectasis, it is important that you use good techniques to clear your lungs. This can include directed coughing and/or postural drainage (see below). Mucus left in the lungs can lead to an infection, inflammation, low oxygen levels, and/or a collapsing of the airways (also known as atelectasis). 1 Repeated infections can lead to your bronchiectasis becoming worse. Directed Cough Techniques You may wonder why you should make yourself cough. The reason is to keep mucus from pooling in your lungs. Mucus pooling can allow bacteria to enter the lungs which can cause an infection. Directed cough methods use deliberate coughing to clear mucus from the airways. Below are a few differen...

Pulmonary hygiene, previously known as pulmonary toilet, refers to exercises and procedures that help to clear your airways of mucus and other secretions. This ensures that your lungs get enough oxygen and your respiratory system works efficiently. Pulmonary hygiene can be part of a treatment plan for any condition that affects your breathing abilities, including: • • • • • • • There are several pulmonary hygiene methods and approaches. Some can be done on your own at home, while others require a visit to your healthcare provider. Read on to learn more about some of the most common pulmonary hygiene methods and how to get the most out of them. Breathing exercises can help you in several ways, from relaxing your airways after a coughing fit to clearing them without the need for a big cough. Here are two breathing exercises that can help you clear your airways: Relaxed breathing To practice relaxed breathing, do the following: • Relax your neck and shoulders. • Place one hand on your stomach. • Exhale as slowly as you can through your mouth. • Breathe in slowly and deeply, making sure to keep your shoulders down and relaxed. Repeat these steps four or five times a day. Huffing This exercise requires you to “huff” by breathing hard out of your mouth, as though you were creating fog on a mirror. You can do it two ways: • Inhale as you usually would, then push your breath out as hard as you can. • Take a deep breath and exhale with short, sharp breaths. Suctioning involves the ...

Chest physiotherapy consists of external mechanical maneuvers, such as chest percussion, postural drainage, and vibration, to augment mobilization and clearance of airway secretions. It is indicated for patients in whom cough is insufficient to clear thick, tenacious, copious, or loculated secretions ( General references Chest physiotherapy consists of external mechanical maneuvers, such as chest percussion, postural drainage, and vibration, to augment mobilization and clearance of airway secretions. It is indicated... read more ). Examples include patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is airflow limitation caused by an inflammatory response to inhaled toxins, often cigarette smoke. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and various occupational... read more (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), in certain clinical situations ( General references Chest physiotherapy consists of external mechanical maneuvers, such as chest percussion, postural drainage, and vibration, to augment mobilization and clearance of airway secretions. It is indicated... read more ) • In postural drainage and chest percussion, the patient is rotated to facilitate drainage of secretions from a specific lung lobe or segment while being clapped with cupped hands to loosen and mobilize retained secretions that can then be expectorated or drained. The procedure is somewhat uncomfortable and tiring for the patient. Alternatives to chest percussi...

Introduction Postural drainage is a method for clearing the lungs by changing position. It allows gravity to help drain the mucous to the top of the lungs where it can be removed more easily. It can be an important way to prevent pneumonia. For example, as soon as a person shows signs of getting a cold or has flu-like feelings, postural drainage and increased fluids should be started to prevent more serious lung infections. This method and the specific positions should be discussed with the doctor first. Do not do this if it makes breathing harder or if it affects the heart rate. Clapping and vibration may be added to the postural drainage routine. This will help loosen the mucous by shaking it loose. It helps the mucous move from the small air sacs to the larger airways where it can be coughed or suctioned out. Clapping and vibration are done when the person is placed in certain postural drainage positions. How do I do postural drainage? For best results, postural drainage, clapping and vibration should be done regularly in order to prevent serious infections like pneumonia. This is also a good time for a person to do deep breathing exercises or incentive spirometry. All of these practices help keep the lungs healthy. Keep in mind that these positions are the "ideal." Due to the type of injury or spasms, there may be limitations on positioning. Do the best that you can. Step 1: Feel the chest. The chest should be felt to see where the mucous is located. For example, you m...

When we suffer from flu and cold, our body develops mucus inside the lungs which comes out when we cough. But when this gets worse and pneumonia develops then we need to think of other ways to take out that extra sputum. Postural drainage positions are a scientific way yet a very easy procedure to drain out sputum from our lungs. In this article, I am going to simplify the postural drainage posture so that you can practice it at home. So read the article till the end to get the most out of it. Postural drainage positions to drain out sputum The postural drainage technique is a procedure in which the body is postured such that fluid can drain out under the effect of gravity. To understand this we need to learn a little about So we have two lungs inside the rib cage, lungs are connected to the nostrils through the trachea bronchi and bronchioles. Each lung is subdivided into three lobes, upper lobes, middle lobe, and lower lobe. So when we suffer from pneumonia the mucus formation occurs in the lung and can affect any of the lobes. For the effectiveness of the postural drainage technique, the body posture would depend on which lobe is affected and is filled with mucus. The aim of the posture is to drain out mucus from the bronchi to the trachea and then finally cough it out. So let’s start with the upper lobe. Along with this, you can also follow Postural drainage positions for upper lobe To drain out mucus from the upper lobe under the influence of gravity we need to sit st...

SCHEDULING TREATMENT The treatment often works best in the morning. This allows the mucus to be removed that has built up during the night. Sometimes a treatment can be done at night to reduce the need for coughing during sleep. Make sure you wait at least 1-2 hours after eating before starting you treatment. This helps to prevent nausea and or vomiting. CPT just before meals may cause you to become tired and may decrease appetite. STEPS • 1. Use specific positions so the force of gravity can assist in the removal of • 2. The patient is positioned so that the diseased area is in a near vertical position, and gravity is used to assist the drainage of specific segment. • 3. The positions assumed are determined by the location, severity, and duration of mucous obstruction. • 4. The exercises are performed two to three times a day, before meals and bedtime. Each position is done for 3-15 minutes. • 5. The procedure should be discontinued if tachycardia, palpitations, dyspnea, or chest occurs. These symptoms may indicate hypoxemia. Discontinue if hemoptysis occurs. • 6. Bronchodilators, mucolytics agents, water, or saline may be nebulised and inhaled before postural drainage and chest percussion to reduce bronchospasm, decrease thickness of mucus and sputum, and combat edema of the bronchial walls, there by enhancing secretion removal. • 7. Perform secretion removal procedures before eating. • 8. Make sure patient is comfortable before the procedure starts and as comfortable as...

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