Chest Physiotherapy

Agustina Salinding

Introduction
It has been used since early 1900s by
physical therapists and nurses
Early 1970s technique for airway
maintenance
Chest percussion, chest vibration, direct
coughing & breathing, pulmonary drainage,
breathing exercises
2
Chest percussion (clapping)
Strike pts chest wall to loosen bronchial
secretions
Cupped hand creates an air pocket that trap
air between the hand & chest & vibration
to sent the secret bronchi
3
CI :
Thoracic / abdominal trauma
Acute medical emergencies
Empyema, pleural effusion, pneumothorax,
hemoptysis
Abscess
4
Chest vibration
Fine vibrations transmitted to the secretions
by hand
During exhalation
Instruct pt to inhale trough nose & exhale
slowly trough pursed lips
5
Pulmonary drainage
Increase to remove bronchial secretion
positioning gravity will aid their cephalad
movement
Liquefy viscous secretion with aerosol therapy
Loosen tenacious secretions
Remove accumulated secretions
To aid lung ventilation & pulmonay hygiene by
removing secretions that cause increased
airway resistance, obstruction & infection

6
Indications :
Excessive production of / failure to remove
secretions
Restrictive disease (ineffective cough)
Aspiration
Propilactic care

7
Contraindications :
Abscess
Severe airway resistance
Rib fracture
Hemoptysis
Diaphragmatic disorders
Head trauma & increased ICP
Hypertension & other cardiac problems

8