Autodrainage

Question

Hello,
I have a 17 year-old CF child and her pneumologist warns us about her lack of independance for chest physiotherapy at her age.
What age do you recommend to learn to do chest physiotherapy alone to be more independent during holidays and as a support to daily sessions?
Thank you

Answer

Hello,
There is no particular age to learn how to do chest physiotherapy alone.
The sooner is the better so that the familly and the child can have more freedom for the holidays and weekends.
It depends on the child's caracter and its wish to be independent...
I think it's possible to start around the age of 10 to 12; we can work on chest techniques with or without instrumental aid and with or without parents, depending on the child.
The parental control and the chest physiotherapy with a physiotherapist should not be suppressing: it's hard to be motivated when you are a teenager...
But don't panic: 17 years is a good age to learn because the desire to be independant can be very strong so the teenager will learn very fast because he's interested!
Your daughter can better understand how cystic fibrosis works and why it's important to do chest physiotherapy.
Best regards,
Charlotte Lacarriere

13.10.2014