Chest physiotherapy is a group of physical techniques that improve lung function and help you breathe better. Chest physiotherapy expands the lungs, strengthens breathing muscles, and loosens and improves drainage of thick lung secretions.

People who suffer from respiratory problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia etc can benefit from this form of therapy. Postural drainage, chest percussion, deep breathing, coughing, chest vibration and chest mobility exercises are some of the procedures which are a part of the chest physiotherapy.

1. To mobilize the upper chest and shoulders: With the patient seated on a chair, make him or her extend both arms overhead to 180 degrees bilaterally, during inhalation. After this, have the person bend forward at the hips and try to touch the floor during exhalation.

2. To mobilize the upper part of the chest and stretch the pectorals: Make the patient sit on a chair with hands entwined behind the head; Let the arms be pulled horizontally, so that pectoralis muscles are elongated, and ask the person to inhale deeply.

3. To increase expiration or exhaling through deep breathing: Ask the patient to flex the hips and knees slightly and breathe in. Then make him or her pull both the knees to the chest area, one at a time, while breathing out. This pushes the abdominal area into the diaphragm and results in better expiration.

Doctors generally recommend one or more other treatments to manage respiratory disease and breathing problems. Treatments vary depending on the specific disease, the severity of the disease, your medical history, your age, and other factors.