Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
[Acute bronchiolitis and chest physiotherapy: the end of a reign]
B Sterling1, E Bosdure1, N Stremler-Le Bel1
1Service de spécialités pédiatriques et unité de pneumopédiatrie, CHU de la Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille cedex 05, France.
Insights
Chest physiotherapy is commonly used for infant acute bronchiolitis but evidence suggests it does not improve outcomes. This review indicates chest physiotherapy is not recommended for treating infant acute bronchiolitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Respiratory Medicine
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Abstract:
Every winter, numerous infants are hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis. The severity criteria and symptomatic treatment are well known, with chest physiotherapy codified in 2000 by the French Health Authority (HAS) consensus conference (with techniques varying from one country to another) and becoming nearly systematic for the treatment of bronchial obstruction in infants. However, is this treatment really effective and legitimate for acute bronchiolitis? The objective of this study was to review the main studies on this subject. Few studies are available and most have a low level of evidence. However, they all tend to agree that chest physiotherapy does not change the natural history of the disease and most particularly the duration of hospitalization. Therefore, it does not seem that the prescription of chest physiotherapy in infant acute bronchiolitis is recommended.
Related Concept Videos
Chest Physiotherapy
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation

