Description

Chest physiotherapy (CPT) is a broad term used to describe a variety of treatments generally performed by respiratory therapists, where breathing is improved by the indirect removal of mucus from the breathing passages of a patient. Other terms used for these treatments include respiratory or cardiothoracic physiotherapy.

What to Expect

Techniques include clapping or percussion: the therapist lightly claps the patient's chest, back, and area under the arms. Percussion, while effective in the treatment of infants and children, is no longer extensively used in adults due to the introduction of more effective and self-management focused treatments. These include, but are not limited to, the use of "flutter" or oscillating positive pressure devices, PEP (positive expiratory pressure) masks or devices, as well as specific exercise regimes.

Why It Is Done

The exercises prescribed can include specific respiratory exercises, as well as general cardiovascular exercises which assist the body to remove sputum as well as to improve the efficiency of oxygen up-take in muscles.