Physiotherapy

Adults with P.C.D. and parents of children with P.C.D. should be taught by a respiratory physiotherapist how to do daily chest physiotherapy and their techniques should be reassessed regularly as the child grows up. Chest physiotherapy consists of positioning so that gravity helps to drain secretions, combined with different techniques to aid effective clearance of secretions from the lungs. In children of 3 years onwards and adults the use of the Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques should be learnt.

People with P.C.D. often need to do chest physiotherapy twice daily and more frequently during a cold or chest infections, By the age of 8 or 9 years children can start to learn to do some of the treatment independently.

Children and adults with P.C.D. should be encouraged to eat well and healthily and do plenty of sport, e.g. swimming. running, aerobics, trampolining and football, providing they are medically able to do so.