Autogenic drainage physiotherapy can effectively improve the underlying lung mechanical impairment of cystic fibrosis (CF), a study shows.

Respiratory physiotherapy is an important part of the treatment of patients with CF because it helps remove the mucus that accumulates in the lungs and that can ultimately lead to respiratory failure.

Autogenic drainage is a commonly used, self-administered airway clearance technique. It is based on repetitive exercises of controlled inhalation and exhalation to move mucus buildup from the small to the large airways.

In the study, “The immediate effects of a single autogenic drainage session on ventilatory mechanics in adult subjects with cystic fibrosis,” published in the journal Plos One, researchers evaluated the respiratory changes induced by a single session of autogenic drainage.