Chest physiotherapy (CPT)
Chest physiotherapy (CPT), also known as chest physical therapy, is a hands-on treatment designed to help individuals whose lungs are obstructed by mucus. This technique involves light percussion and vibration applied to various areas of the torso, which can be performed by trained individuals or even by patients themselves. CPT is especially beneficial for people with lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, and other illnesses that lead to excessive mucus build-up.
The therapy is conducted in different positions to target specific lung lobes, allowing for effective drainage of mucus into larger airways where it can be coughed out. Sessions typically last around thirty minutes, combining clapping and vibrating motions to dislodge mucus, with patients encouraged to breathe deeply or cough throughout the process. CPT is generally considered safe, provided that practitioners follow proper techniques to avoid discomfort or injury. Many patients incorporate CPT into their daily routines, often finding ways to make the experience more enjoyable. Overall, CPT serves as a valuable tool for managing lung health and enhancing respiratory function, particularly for those with chronic lung conditions.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Chest physiotherapy (CPT)
Chest physiotherapy (CPT), also known as chest physical therapy, is a basic hands-on treatment for people whose lungs are clogged with mucus. When used correctly, CPT can help loosen and drain unwanted material from the lungs. The basic motions needed for CPT involve light percussion and vibrating, usually with the hands, on different parts of the torso. CPT can be performed by people with minimal training, and in some cases patients can perform CPT on themselves. CPT is a treatment for a variety of diseases affecting the lungs, such as cystic fibrosis.
Background
The human lungs are an important part of a healthy life. Most people have two lungs, a right and a left. The right lung has three connected segments called lobes, and the left lung has two lobes. Each lobe has its own passageways for air, sacs to hold air, and blood vessels that allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass between blood and air. The lungs and their lobes are essential for moving and using air that the body needs to function.
Many illnesses target the human lungs. Among these illnesses are cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, lung abscesses, and some neuromuscular disorders. These illnesses may cause mucus or other materials to gather in the lungs. Mucus is a slippery liquid that occurs naturally in the lungs and other parts of the body. In normal quantities, mucus is helpful for protecting and lubricating parts of the body, such as the airways leading to and from the lungs.
When too much mucus gathers in or near the lungs, it can obstruct air flow and potentially cause lasting damage. Most lungs are equipped with different means of clearing out excess mucus, such as small hairs called cilia that can push out unwanted materials. The act of coughing is also helpful in removing mucus. However, some illnesses cause so much mucus to gather in the lungs that natural defenses cannot cope with it.
One serious disease relating to mucus in the lungs is cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes unusually sticky and thick mucus to gather in the lungs. This mucus can clog air tubes, leading to difficulty in breathing, and retain bacteria and other harmful materials that cause infections. Infections may involve coughing and shortness of breath, and severe infections may permanently damage the lungs. The word fibrosis refers to scar tissue that may build in damaged lungs, further reducing lung strength and capacity. Severe cystic fibrosis is potentially life-threatening.
Although no known cure exists for cystic fibrosis, people with this and other diseases affecting their lungs have many treatment options. Medications, surgeries, or transplants may help clear airways, restore proper lung function, and decrease infections. Many patients with chronically clogged lungs also have turned to less intensive forms of treatment, such as hands-on therapies that can be performed at home.
Overview
Chest physiotherapy, also known as chest physical therapy or CPT, is a popular technique for loosening and draining mucus and other unwanted materials from the lungs. People can perform CPT with minimal training. Some patients seek CPT at medical facilities from physical therapists or nurses. However, most patients arrange to have family members or friends perform CPT in their homes. In some cases, patients can perform their own CPT.
CPT involves light percussion, usually with the hands, in a clapping or vibrating motion on the patient's torso. During this activity, the patient may breathe deeply or cough to help dislodge mucus. The patient, usually sitting in a chair or lying on a flat surface, may assume several positions. Changing positions allows different lobes of the lungs to face downward, giving them the opportunity to drain mucus into large airways. There, the mucus can more easily be coughed or huffed out of the lungs.
Different positions target different lobes. Upper lobes are generally drained best in a sitting position. The patient may sit in a chair with his or her body at different angles while the therapist creates a light percussion on the upper back or the area between the shoulder blade and collarbone. Upper lobes also can drain in a horizontal position, with the patient lying flat while the therapist percusses the pectoral area.
Right and left lobes are often treated with the patient lying on a flat surface, with the lobe being treated facing upward. Percussion along the muscles under the arm can help drain those lobes. Lower lobes often are treated from the horizontal position as well. Patients may lie on their side or on their stomach while the therapist percusses their back or side.
Most percussion involves clapping of a hand on the affected area. Therapists usually use a cupped hand that matches the curve of the body and helps soften the blow to avoid pain. Clapping usually lasts for about three to five minutes and follows a steady beat. Clapping often precedes briefer periods of hand vibrations. To vibrate the patient, therapists usually place their hands flat on the affected area, apply pressure, and then make a shaking motion. The entire session will usually last about thirty minutes but may vary depending on the severity of the symptoms. Following the treatment, the patient may be able to force out some dislodged mucus by coughing or huffing.
CPT is widely considered a safe form of therapy as long as practitioners observe a few safety rules. Clapping must be done properly to avoid causing pain. Similarly, therapists should not clap bony areas of the body such as the spine or lower ribs, which can cause injury, especially to children. Clapping on the stomach may cause nausea, and clapping on the lower back can endanger organs such as the kidneys and liver. Many people have adopted routine CPT into their lifestyles and developed ways to increase their comfort or incorporate enjoyable activities, such as listening to music or watching television, during CPT.
Bibliography
"Basics of Lung Care." Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Airway-Clearance/Basics-of-Lung-Care/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
"Chest Physical Therapy." Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Airway-Clearance/Chest-Physical-Therapy/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
"Chest Physiotherapy (CPT)." Current Nursing, 2011, currentnursing.com/reviews/chest‗physiotherapy.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
"Chest Physiotherapy Treatment (CPT)." Cincinnati Children's Hospital, 2017, www.cincinnatichildrens.org/patients/child/encyclopedia/treat/respiratory/chest-physiotherapy. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
"Cystic Fibrosis." Mayo Clinic, 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353706. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
"Cystic Fibrosis." US National Library of Medicine, 28 Nov. 2017, ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/cystic-fibrosis. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
Evans, Ron. "How to Do Chest Physical Therapy (CPT): Children, Adolescents, and Adults." Phoenix Children's Hospital, 2009, www.phoenixchildrens.org/sites/default/files/health-information/the-emily-center/child-health-topics/handouts/CPT-55b.pdf. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
Field, Jessica Bon, and Andrea Levine. "Chest Physiotherapy." Merck Manual, 2017, www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/pulmonary-rehabilitation/chest-physiotherapy. Accessed 5 Dec. 2017.
Puntney, Teresa E. Physiotherapy for Children. Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier, 2007.