Comparison of the Effects of Mechanical Cough Assist and Traditional Chest Physiotherapy on Spirometry Index in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that produces adhesive secretions along airway. Assisting the clearance of airway secretions plays an important role in treating these patients. The purpose of the present study was comparing mechanical cough assist and traditional chest physiotherapy in patients with cystic fibrosis. A total of 14 patients (mean age: 11/4 years) with cystic fibrosis participated in in the current study. Each patient was treated on two different days using two different methods, i.e. mechanical cough assist and traditional chest physiotherapy. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), Forced Expiratory Flow between 25% and 75% expired (FEF),and patient preference were evaluated. The results showed no significant difference in changing the FVC (P=0/83), FEV1(P=0/21), and FEF(P=0/74) after two treatment methods. Also, no significant difference was observed in patients adherence (p=0/66). Mechanical cough assist and traditional chest physiotherapy have the same effects on airway clearance in patients with cystic fibrosis and the patients prefer both of them at the same level.