Whilst several short term studies provide a potential physiological rationale for using exercise as a form of secretion clearance, to date, there is no medium to long term evidence supporting the clinical efficacy of such practice.
The researchers behind the survey therefore recommend that clinicians should question patients about whether they are using exercise in this way, and advise them of the current state of the evidence.
When a person chooses to use exercise as a substitute for airway clearance techniques when well, clinicians should also take the time to discuss that the patient may need to use a traditional airway clearance technique when unwell to improve airway clearance.
Another interesting finding of the survey was that personal experience of participants was a dominant driver of their decision making. Only 7% of participants reported that advice from a physiotherapist was a basis for their beliefs, as opposed to 85% who cited personal experience.
This finding highlights that clinicians should take the time to explore a patient’s beliefs and personal experience as part of the process for prescribing new or modified exercise and airway clearance regimens.
> From: Ward, J Physiother 65 (2019) 43-50 . All rights reserved to the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here for the online summary.
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