Physical Therapy for Adults With Bronchiectasis

In Brief Bronchiectasis, or abnormal chronic dilatation of 1 or more bronchi, often results in a reduction in the effectiveness of mucociliary clearance. Physical therapy techniques can be used to augment mucociliary clearance; for example the active cycle of breathing techniques, autogenic drainage, positive expiratory pressure, oscillating positive expiratory pressure, and high-frequency chest wall oscillation. Reduced exercise capacity and breathlessness on exertion are also problems that may be experienced by people with bronchiectasis. There is a lack of rigorous clinical studies to demonstrate efficacy, but accumulated clinical experience demonstrates benefit from physical therapy for people with bronchiectasis. Physical therapy can be used in the management of patients with bronchiectasis. Benefits include a reduction in cough, increase in exercise capacity, reduction in breathlessness, and improvement in quality of life.