Increase of expiratory flow generated by respiratory physiotherapy techniques in infants <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

The study had as objective to evaluate the magnitude of the increment of the expiratory flow generated by the techniques of Passive Manual Expiratory Therapy (TEMP) and of Slow Flow Expiratory Increased (AFEL).
Material and methods: Six healthy babies among 2 and 10 months of age that accomplished the lung function test were selected. After that, in each one was applied the two physiotherapy techniques. The data of the expiratory flows were collected through a connected pneumotacograph to a computer with specific software.
Results: There was no increase statistically significant (p > 0, 05) among the expiratory flows generated by the techniques in comparison with the respective base values and with the pick of maximum flow generated by the jacket.
Conclusion: The techniques TEMP and AFEL didn’t present significant magnitude in their picks of expiratory flows.
KEY WORDS: RESPIRATORY THERAPY; PHYSICAL THERAPY TECHNIQUES; INFANT; EXHALATION/physiology.