Chest physiotherapy techniques a boon for Covid patients: Experts

PATNA: Chest physiotherapy techniques can prove to be a boon for patients as chest infections are becoming a cause of concern for doctors amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Experts said it could improve oxygen saturation level in patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
Senior physiotherapist at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS), Dr Ratnesh Choudhary, said the new Coronavirus strains are leading to pneumonia in many patients, and physiotherapy can play a great role in treating them.
"Chest physiotherapy is a technique, which improves the lungs capacity by stimulation of the lungs muscle. It helps in releasing the secretions trapped in the chest. There are several techniques such as breathing exercises using respirometer lung exerciser, which enhances the capacity of lungs," Dr Choudhary said.
He added that physiotherapy can be used during both pre and post-recovery treatment of Covid patients to address breathlessness, weakness, mental confusion and gastric issues.
Dr Choudhary along with other physiotherapists have started a free-of-cost initiative to provide telephonic consultation to Covid patients. He claimed that the techniques administered to the patients help in early recovery and cut the need for artificial supplementation of oxygen.
Gaya-based physiotherapist, Dr Mrityunjay Kumar, said lying in the prone position is a must-try for patients with low oxygen saturation level. "Huffing and coughing, chest and back-patting are few exercises that relieve breathing scope," he said.
Another physiotherapist from Gaya, Dr Ajit Kumar Keshri, also emphasized the importance of chest physiotherapy. "Patients facing a drop in oxygen level are suggested to do the respiratory exercise using a respirometer. Besides, that people in home isolation should do clapping, vaporization and walking," Dr Kumar said.
Adding to that, a Muzaffarpur-based physiotherapist Dr Abhishek Suman said blowing off a candle is a good exercise and can be done easily at home. "A patient with severe symptoms of chest congestion should practice one candle blowing while a better condition patient should do the same with more candles," Dr Suman said.
Om Prakash, a Covid survivor said being under the guidance of a physiotherapist helped him a lot in balancing the oxygen level with the suggested exercises from the doctor.