Physiotherapy for large airway collapse: an ABC approach.

Large airway collapse (LAC) describes the phenomenon of excessive, abnormal, inward movement of the large airways ( trachea and/or main bronchi and/or bronchus intermedius) occurring during the expiratory phase of the respiratory cycle. It is an increasingly well-recognised problem and a prevalent comorbidity in other chronic respiratory conditions ( COPD and asthma). LAC is associated with pervasive respiratory features such as a barking cough, exertional dyspnoea and an increased propensity to lower respiratory tract infection.