Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition where sticky mucus can build up in the lungs and digestive system, leading to lung infections and issues with digesting food. Symptoms typically start in early childhood and progressively worsen over time, causing increasing amounts of damage over the years.
There is currently no cure for the disease, but there are various treatment pathways that can be followed in order to keep symptoms under control, as well as preventing or reducing complications and helping to make the condition easier to manage and live with.
For example, there is medication available that can be taken and physical activity has been found to be beneficial in symptom management, while airway clearance techniques can also be used to help clear mucus from the lungs.
Physiotherapy can also be particularly useful as part of a daily treatment regime, helping support airway clearance, back and continence issues, sinus management, keeping fit and so on.
Different treatments and techniques are adopted depending on the patient’s specific circumstances and we will work with you closely to develop a routine that suits your age, health, ability and individual requirements.
Airway clearance techniques can potentially include deep breathing, huffing, coughing and relaxed breathing, cycling through these different movements to get rid of mucus.
These exercises can also be used alongside postural drainage, where you will be positioned in different postures so that gravity can help drain mucus from your lungs.
Similarly, percussions and vibrations can also be carried out to help loosen mucus, either through using a cupped hand to clap the chest or by giving the chest short rhythmic squeezes as you exhale.
If you’d like to find out more about cystic fibrosis and how physiotherapy could be of benefit, get in touch with the Clear Physio team today.
