Chest Physiotherapy for Asthma

Published on: 1st December 2022
Medically reviewed by: Physiotherapist at First Response Healthcare

Asthma is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that makes it difficult for the respiratory system to move air in and out of your lungs effectively and efficiently. People who have asthma have inflamed airways and triggers such as dust, pet dander, or smoke leading to the airways becoming swollen which can make it difficult to breathe. Having asthma can affect an individual’s quality of life and physical activity. Signs and symptoms of asthma include – difficulty in breathing, wheezing, increased production of sputum, coughing, and chest tightness. While there is no cure for asthma, it is possible to manage the disease and ensure that adults and children with asthma can lead regular, normal lives.

Asthma can be managed through different types of treatments including corticosteroids that help in reducing airway swelling. Another effective way of managing asthma is chest physiotherapy which can significantly improve the quality of life of people who have asthma. One can also opt for chest physiotherapy for asthma while continuing the traditional medicines.

How Does Chest Physiotherapy Help Asthma Patients?

Respiratory physiotherapy or chest physiotherapy can play a crucial role in managing and controlling one’s asthma. Through chest physiotherapy for asthma, it is possible to improve respiratory function by removing thick secretions from the airways, enabling ease of breathing, and preventing infections. As a part of chest physiotherapy, the physiotherapist works with the asthma patient to strengthen his/her respiratory muscles, which can improve the patient’s breathing and can ensure that large amounts of oxygen is carried throughout the body. Chest physiotherapy for asthma can not just improve the patient’s overall health but can also have a positive effect on their quality of life. It is important to note that in order to help an asthma patient, chest physiotherapy itself is not enough, but instead, it needs to be a part of a group of treatments that the patient relies on.

Through Respiratory Physiotherapy, the goal is to:

Control and manage the symptoms of asthma and prevent further aggravation
Aid in removing excess sputum and help maintain a normal breathing pattern for the patient
Try and prevent an asthmatic attack
Try and make sure that pulmonary function remains as normal as possible

What Does Chest Physiotherapy Comprise?

Chest physiotherapy for asthma or Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy comprises various techniques. The physiotherapist will decide the exercises and techniques that can help you the most after understanding your condition and goals. Some of the techniques within chest physiotherapy are as follows:

1. Bronchial Drainage

This is a technique in chest physiotherapy that uses gravity to support postural drainage. There are 12 different types of positions that the physiotherapist can use depending on the patient’s needs and condition.

2. Percussion

In chest physiotherapy, this technique is used to remove secretions from the tracheobronchial tree. When this technique is executed effectively, one can hear a distinct popping sound. Some other techniques that are used for removing secretions include vibrations, huffing, and shaking techniques. Techniques such as postural drainage, suctioning and coughing techniques are used to remove mobilized secretions. Active cycles of breathing and autogenic drainage are also methods that the physiotherapist might use to remove secretions.

3. Vibration

Also referred to as the shaking technique, vibration in chest physiotherapy for asthma can help with loosening up the mucus and the secretions in the airways. Once vibration does its job effectively, through coughing or suction, the secretions can be removed from the body.

4. Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP)

Positive Expiratory Pressure is used in chest physiotherapy to help keep the airways open. It’s an airway-cleaning technique that uses a mechanical device that gets placed against the mouth.

5. Flutter

This technique in chest physiotherapy makes use of a manual device to loosen up the secretion in the airways. Using a combination of positive pressure and airway oscillations, this technique breaks away stubborn mucus that is present in the walls of the airway.

6. Breathing exercise

Two types of breathing exercises called the Diaphragmatic breathing exercise and the pursing lip breathing technique are widely used by physiotherapists as a part of chest physiotherapy for asthma. These exercises prevent breathing abnormalities by increasing air redistribution to the lungs, maximising oxygenation, and relieving dyspnea.

What Are The Benefits Of Chest Physiotherapy For Asthma?

Chest Physiotherapy for asthma has numerous benefits. These include:

Improvement in cardiorespiratory performance
Reduction in symptoms such as breathlessness, chest tightness, and wheezing
Improvement in overall fitness
Better quality of life

All in all, respiratory physiotherapy is an important management strategy for asthma to control one’s disease symptoms and to improve one’s quality of life.

Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy At Home | First Response Healthcare

If you’re looking for chest physiotherapy services in Dubai, First Response Healthcare (FRH) is the best and most convenient option. FRH offers chest physiotherapy, which is a specialized area of physiotherapy that helps patients who have injuries or issues in the heart and lungs. For people who have asthma, patients who have suffered an acute lung or heart injury, people who are dealing with a chronic cardiorespiratory condition, or people who require a heart or lung operation, chest physiotherapy can be very helpful.

Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy or chest physiotherapy for asthma can help ensure that the patient is able to experience an active lifestyle and doesn’t suffer because of symptoms such as shortness of breath, constant cough, or difficulty in breathing. Through respiratory physiotherapy or cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, coronary artery disease, or heart related issues can be well managed.

First Response Healthcare (FRH) is a JCI-accredited , leading home healthcare company in Dubai that offers a range of medical and healthcare services for physiotherapy. FRH’s services are reliable, professional, and patient-centric. Through FRH you can avail various services for health tolerance, food intolerance, and various other tests related to physiotherapy. FRH tries to provide its customers with the highest quality of physiotherapy services and even has a gold seal of approval from Joint Commission International Standards to prove it.

FRH has a team of licensed, experienced doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists in Dubai, who offer their services 24*7, 365 days a year. FRH’s team of physiotherapists can reach your home, hotel, or office, anywhere within the Emirate of Dubai. Our team of physiotherapists can reach you within 30 minutes after you book an appointment with us at a time that suits you best. Our team provides the best physiotherapy, which is highly trained, experienced, and consists of licensed physiotherapists who are well-equipped with portable equipment to provide respiratory physiotherapy at home. We have some of the best therapists in Dubai who are licensed by the Dubai Healthcare Authority and have several years of clinical experience.

Benefits of Getting Respiratory Physiotherapy Through FRH:

We Adapt To Your Schedule: Instead of you trying to work around the schedule of a doctor or physiotherapist; at FRH, we work around your schedule. We will come to you at a time that works for you best. We are available 24*7, even on weekends and public holidays.
We Do not Waste Any Time: We can reach your home, hotel, or office within 30 minutes after you book an appointment with us. We make sure that you do not waste your time.
We Can Come To You, Anywhere: For your chest physiotherapy appointments, we can visit you anywhere within the entire Emirate of Dubai and can come to you at a location of your choice.
Customized Services: Our physiotherapist will devise a plan for you that will take into account your lifestyle, health condition, schedule, and other parameters.
One-on-One Attention: We take the time to listen to you and understand what you need. We make sure we are giving you our undivided time and attention during the course of your treatment with us.
We Keep You Updated: We will share regular progress reports and updates with you and keep you informed about how your treatment and recovery is progressing.

FRH Physiotherapy Treatments for Asthma

As a part of Chest Physiotherapy for asthma, physiotherapists at FRH will take you through exercises for Breathing Retraining. Breathing retraining consists of six repetitions of the following physiotherapeutic exercises:

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing – Diaphragm is the muscle located just below the lungs and helps us breathe. When the physiotherapist teaches you Diaphragmatic Breathing, the idea is to learn to breathe from the diaphragm rather than your chest. Diaphragmatic Breathing can strengthen your diaphragm and can decrease the amount of oxygen that your body needs. This is because weak muscles tend to need more oxygen. Diaphragmatic Breathing can also help you slow down your breathing.

2.Pursed-lip Breathing – Pursed-lip Breathing is administered in a lying and relaxed posture. This technique can help control the shortness of your breath. Practising this technique will help you slow down your breathing, which can help make sure that each breath is more effective. When you practice this technique, your airways stay open for longer, which slows down breathing rate and also help relieve shortness of breath.

The following are some more exercises that are included in Breathing Retraining:

Manual Expiratory Passive Therapy Maneuvers
Hiccup Inspiratory Maneuvers
Postural Orientation
Twenty Repetitions of Pompage, which is Maneuvers performed for the muscle fascia.

What Are The Benefits Of Chest Physiotherapy At Home?

Opting for respiratory physiotherapy at home has numerous benefits. First of all, it is one of the most cost-effective options since it can help you avoid the costs of travelling to the hospital, physiotherapy center or clinic for your physiotherapy appointment. You can also end up saving time when you go for home physiotherapy, since you are no longer required to commute in traffic or wait in long queues at the hospital or physiotherapy center. Another important benefit of chest physiotherapy at home is that you can take your sessions in the place that you feel most comfortable in – your home. This can help you avoid any distractions or stress that might come with taking treatment elsewhere. Moreover, at home, you are also surrounded by loved ones and family members, who can supervise your sessions and support you during the course of your treatment. Lastly, with COVID-19 infections still looming as a concern, it is the safest option to avoid public places like hospitals, and clinics that have a lot of sick patients. And at-home physiotherapy helps you achieve that in the easiest way possible.

To avail services of our chest physiotherapy in Dubai, all you need to do is call on 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC. You can also book an appointment online by visiting our website: https://firstresponsehealthcare.com/ae/dubai