Lungs have several mechanisms of clearing out the secretions from the airway. Coughing is the protective reflex by which these lungs are pushed out of the lungs.
Chest physiotherapy is a set of exercises that are performed on the chest to aid in the process of clearing our secretions and also to strengthen respiratory muscles.
Chest Physiotherapy for airway clearance
Positioning: Your child is placed in various positions to drain the excess mucus from the different lobes of lungs. Each position is designed so that one of the five lobes of the lungs is facing downward and gravity helps in drainage.
Vibrations: Gentle vibrations are given on the chest wall either by fingers (in infants) or by using vibrating devices (older kids) to loosen the secretions and move them from lobes to larger airways.
Tapping and Patting: Taps are given on the chest wall in all the areas using fingers or cupped hands to help in loosening the secretions and their drainage from various lobes to larger airways from where it is then coughed out.
High-frequency chest wall oscillation or the Vests: inflatable vests are advised to children with suppurative lung diseases like cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis. These vests are attached to a machine that delivers high frequency vibrations and helps in drainage of the airways.
Active cycle of breathing exercises: These are set of breathing exercises, divided into 3 phases, that help in drainage of thick mucus. The first phase allows relaxation of airways, second phase pushes air behind the mucus and third phase allows pushing the mucus out.
Chest physiotherapy for Asthma
Breathing exercises:
Pranayama: Breath holding exercises have been a form of promoting lung health since ancient times. Pranayama is a set of breathing exercises in yoga and is extremely beneficial for improving lung functions specially in children with asthma.
Blowing: Blowing through pursed lips or blowing a deflated balloon is a good exercise and a fun activity for children.
Incentive Spirometry: This is a device in which maximum inhalation and maximum exhalation is done by blowing into the device and then inhaling air from the device. This activity helps in opening up the collapsed airways and is especially important in pneumonia.
