Assessment of the forced expiration technique, postural drainage and directed coughing in chest physiotherapy
Sutton, P.P.; Parker, R.A.; Webber, B.A.; Newman, S.P.; Garland, N.; Lopez-Vidriero, M.T.; Pavia, D.; Clarke, S.W.
European Journal of Respiratory Diseases 64(1): 62-68
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0106-4339 PMID: 6825750 Document Number: 213583
The Forced Expiration Technique (FET), postural drainage (PD) and directed coughing have been evaluated in 10 patients with copious sputum (mean value 63.3 ml/24 h) with an inhaled radioaerosol method over a 30-min treatment period. FET alone and FET + PD (but not directed coughing) cleared more radioaerosol than during the control period (P less than 0.01). The wet weight of sputum obtained following FET, FET + PD and directed coughing were all significantly greater than control (P less than 0.01). However, sputum obtained by FET + PD was significantly greater than FET alone (P less than 0.05). Both FET and particularly FET + PD have been shown to be more effective than directed coughing alone and it is suggested that these manoeuvres should be incorporated into standard chest physiotherapy.