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Postural Drainage

By Deborah Leader, RN, About.com

Updated June 10, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: Postural drainage is an airway clearance technique that uses gravity to assist in the removal of secretions from the airways. It is often coupled with chest physiotherapy.

Postural drainage is used in the treatment of COPD , particularly chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis.

Postural drainage can be done with the assistance of a respiratory therapist, or at home, if a patient is taught how to do it themselves. There are a variety of body positions used during postural drainage, depending upon which part of the lungs the therapist wants to focus on.

Want to make chest physiotherapy and postural drainage more effective? Compare prices on airway clearance devices.

Also Known As: airway clearance technique
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