| There are some non-drug asthma cure such as | | | | collected in her lungs. The mucus is loosened by |
| physical therapy. The asthmatic person's chronically | | | | gently clapping, or percussing, and then vibrating the |
| impaired breathing patterns may create other physical | | | | chest with cupped hands. The goal is to enable the |
| problems: a rigid, stiff posture that can result air | | | | person with asthma to cough up mucus and mucus |
| passage and musculature; a weak diaphragm that can | | | | plugs that can lead to infection. |
| result in rigid air passages and musculature, a weak | | | | Postural drainage is performed only when a great |
| diaphragm that results in less efficient breathing, the | | | | deal of mucus is in the lungs. It is never done when |
| obstruction of air passages from excess mucus | | | | the asthmatic person is in the midst of an asthma |
| production. Physical therapy is sometimes used to | | | | attack, because it could intensify breathing difficulties. |
| combat these problems, and one of the most | | | | |
| common physical therapy techniques is called postural | | | | Are there other physical therapies to help people |
| drainage. | | | | with asthma? |
| What is postural drainage? | | | | Breathing exercise can increase muscle strength and |
| It's a technique that uses gravity and percussion - | | | | even help relax the person with asthma. Some |
| gentle rapping on the chest - to loosen and eliminate | | | | breathing exercises encourage slow, deep and |
| thick, tenacious mucus. Generally performed by | | | | controlled inhalation through the nose. Their purpose |
| nurses and physical and respiratory therapists, | | | | is to combat the asthmatic person's tendency to |
| postural drainage can be learned by family members | | | | pant or breathe shallowly through the mouth, which |
| and performed on an asthmatic person at home. | | | | can make asthma worse. Physical or respiratory |
| How is it done? | | | | therapists can demonstrate the appropriate |
| The asthmatic person sits or lies in one of nine | | | | technique. |
| different positions, depending upon where mucus has | | | | |