Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) What Is ACBT?: Patient Information
Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) What Is ACBT?: Patient Information
Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) What Is ACBT?: Patient Information
Patient Information
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Deep Breathing 1. Breath in deeply feeling your lower chest expand as far as possible. Try to keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. 2. 3. 4. 5. Hold the breath for up to three seconds. Let the air out gently. Repeat this step x 4 5times. Your physiotherapist may advise you to use your Incentive Spirometer at this point.
Relaxed Breathing / Breathing Control This is normal, gentle breathing using the lower chest. 1. 2. 3. Rest one hand on your abdomen so that you can feel it rise and fall with your breathing. Breathe in gently feeling your hand rise and your lower chest expand. Breathe out gently allowing your shoulders to relax down. The breath out should be slow, like a sigh.
Huff This is a short sharp breath out through an open mouth that helps to force the secretions out. To perform this, imagine you are trying to fog up a glass or mirror. Remember the huff needs to be through an open mouth, using your abdominals muscles. Cough Only Cough if you feel the secretions are ready to be cleared. How often? Your physiotherapist will advise you on how often you should perform the Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques.
Ref: 1: Hough, A (Third Edition, 2001); Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care 2: Pryor, J & Prasad, S. (Third Edition, 2002): Physiotherapy for Respiratory and Cardiac Problems Physiotherapy / Last revised April 2010