Chest percussion and postural drainage in patients with bronchiectasis.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been treated routinely with chest physical therapy for many years in spite of a lack of scientific validation of this procedure. Only recently have the indications for chest physical therapy been clarified. It is currently believed that such therapy is especially beneficial in patients with copious secretions, and that it is less effective in patients with scanty secretions.

Does chest physical therapy work?

Postural drainage has usually been shown to be an effective component of chest physical therapy; there is currently no data showing a beneficial effect of percussion or vibration; directed coughing may be as efficacious as postural drainage (Table 3); the forced expiration technique may increase sputum clearance with or without postural drainage (Table 4).