Mucus clearance with three chest physiotherapy regimes in cystic fibrosis: a comparison between postural drainage, PEP and physical exercise

Abstract

The effects of three different regimes of chest physiotherapy were compared in this cross-over study. Mucus clearance was monitored in nine clinically stable cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The patients performed: 1) postural drainage with thoracic expansion exercises + forced expiration technique (FET) in the left decubitus position; 2) positive expiratory pressure (PEP)-mask breathing + FET; and 3) physical exercise on a bicycle ergometer + FET. All treatments had the same duration and FET was standardized. Mucus clearance was assessed using a technique based on measurement of the elimination of inhaled radiolabelled particles. Mean clearance of tracer from the right lung by postural drainage, PEP and physical exercise was 18% (range 10-29%), 20% (12-43%), 16% (8-25%), respectively, and from the left lung 20% (8-42%), 15% (5-23%) and 13% (5-17%), respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. Surprisingly, postural drainage (PD) was the most effective technique in the left, dependent lung in 7 of the 9 patients.