Conveniently located in Brisbane
2/ 296 Oxley Road, Graceville, QLD, 4075
Mon-Thur: 7:30am to 7:00pm, Fri: 7:30am to 6:00pm & Sat: 9:00am to 2:00pm
Free parking available for clients

Respiratory physiotherapy, also known as chest physiotherapy, is an area of physio that focuses on the lungs and movement of the ribs and diaphragm.
The aim here is to provide treatment options for patients dealing with a range of lung conditions.
These exercises and other techniques can help users improve their lung health and/or lung capacity. This could prove to be invaluable for many people struggling with chronic health issues and related breathing issues.

These forms of physiotherapy are of use for anyone that has a problem with their lung function and breathing.
There are many people with chronic illness and disability that can suffer from a buildup of mucus in the lungs.
This build-up makes it difficult for patients to fill up their lungs and take in enough oxygen.
In turn, this can have a severe impact on general health and well-being due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Chest physiotherapists can work to reduce these blockages, improve the flow of air and rib movement and improve the health and well-being of clients.
Because of the chronic, incurable nature of some of these disorders, regular sessions are often essential.
Clients with the following issues can benefit from respiratory physio:
Anxiety and Stress issues
Asthma
Bronchitis
Complications following surgery
COPD
Croup
Cystic fibrosis
Emphysema
Long Covid
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pneumonia, both lobar and bronchial
Respiratory infection
Rib injuries
Graceville Physio is the ideal place to book a session with a respiratory physiotherapist. Our team are skilled and highly knowledgeable in respiratory physiotherapy. This means an effective, professional service whether you require a few breathing exercises or intensive percussion of the chest.
They are also able to provide information on exercises for the home and any devices that may help. They are also friendly and personable, which is essential for these repeat, hands-on visits.
We have experts in respiratory physiotherapy that have gained experience by working in Respiratory wards that focus on these type of treatments.
This type of physio can help retrain your breathing, and strengthen your body. This helps the ease of breathing in general and reduces the likelihood of asthma attacks.
Chest percussion is a common, hands-on physiotherapy treatment that can help patients with some of the illnesses mentioned above. Chest percussion requires several different measures to vibrate the chest and loosen the mucus.
Physios will use a drumming effect on the chest to shake the mucus free, but may also use other forms of vibration, deep breathing and coughing techniques to speed up the process. This can occur with the patient in a series of positions. The movement of the patient helps with drainage.
This is a skilled, intensive process, but one that can lead to great results.
To begin with, your physiotherapist will assess the situation by listening to the chest and seeing how much movement occurs in the ribs and diaphragm. They can determine the airflow into the lungs and areas that are badly affected by mucus. Once they have a clearer understanding of your personal condition, they can begin to recommend exercises and treatment options that can help.
Some of these techniques are quite simple in theory. Some will recommend breathing exercises that can maximise the efficiency of your breath. This could have a big impact on oxygen intake. They can also advise on the best position to take to drain mucus from specific areas of the lung. This can ensure that drainage is more effective and doesn’t take as long.
Many of these solutions are exercises that patients can complete at home. However, some people with severe impairments may benefit from the use of a specialist device. Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) therapy devices offer a different way to loosen and remove mucus from the lungs. Our chest physiotherapists can offer advice on these tools and help users get the best results.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with chronic respiratory illness or discomfort, talk to our team. We can set up an appointment with our expert team and put you on the right path to clearer, healthier lungs.
No referral needed


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