Physiotherapy videos
Watch our videos designed to work alongside our leaflets to give you simple, practical advice on each physiotherapy technique or topic.
Physiotherapy is an essential part of managing cystic fibrosis (CF). It covers lots of aspects of your health including airway clearance, exercise, postural work, pelvic floor health and inhaled therapies — giving you the tools to live life to the fullest. For people with CF, learning and practising physiotherapy techniques is key to taking care of yourself and staying on top of your health.
Airway clearance techniques are an important tool for people with CF to help keep your chest clear and prevent infections. Whether you complete airway clearance every day or only when unwell, it’s important that you do it well. We worked closely with a team of specialist CF physiotherapists and people with CF across the UK to create a series of eight videos. This series will guide you through important airway clearance and physiotherapy techniques which can be used as a reminder or refresher whenever needed.
These videos are designed to work alongside our detailed leaflets, giving you simple, practical advice on each technique or topic.
If you are interested in the techniques described in these resources, you should discuss them with your physiotherapist before trying them, so that together you can work out the best approach for you.
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Autogenic drainage (AD)
Autogenic drainage (AD) is a technique that uses changes in your breathing to clear mucus and does not require equipment. This video explains how it works and demonstrates how to do it.
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Active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT)
Active cycle of breathing techniques, or ACBT, is an airway clearance technique. It uses a number of different breathing techniques that, when combined, help to clear mucus from the lungs. This video explains how ACBT works and how to do it.
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Oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP)
Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy or OPEP is a technique used to clear mucus from your airways. Oscillatory devices interrupt the flow of the breath out and provide resistance and vibrations as you exhale which helps to loosen mucus stuck to the airways. This video covers the Aerobika device, there are other devices available, your physiotherapist will teach you to use the device you have.
You can also review our leaflet about the Acapella device.
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Positive expiratory pressure (PEP)
PEP stands for positive expiratory pressure. Breathing out through a PEP device causes a resistance which keeps your airways open, allowing air to get behind mucus so that it can be cleared more easily. This video explains how PEP works and how to do it.
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Bubble PEP
Bubble PEP is a fun and playful way to make airway clearance more enjoyable - especially for kids. PEP stands for positive expiratory pressure. This video explains how bubble PEP works and how to do it.
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Infant PEP and percussion
Percussion and infant PEP are commonly used airway clearance techniques. Percussion (patting) is used to help move mucus in the lungs. It is usually done in different positions.Infant or baby PEP stands for positive expiratory pressure. A soft mask is placed on your baby’s face. As your baby breathes through the mask, a small pressure is made as they breathe out. This pressure holds open the tubes in the lungs and helps to push mucus up and out of their lungs. -
Pelvic floor health
Many people with cystic fibrosis (CF) have episodes of urinary incontinence. This is often made worse by periods of lots of coughing. This video explains how urinary incontinence occurs and offers advice on how to minimise your symptoms.
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Posture
There is no perfect posture and what works for one person may be different for another, but certain postures can impact lung function. All exercise can work on your postural muscles and help with your flexibility. Sometimes you might need to do more targeted exercises to help with strength and mobility specific to your CF. This video goes through several stretches that may help with your posture.
This project would not have been possible without the hard work of the amazing team of specialist CF physiotherapists and people with CF who helped us every step of the way. A warm thank you to you all.
These videos are regularly reviewed to check that they are still relevant, up to date and accurate, but due to the format minor changes are not always possible. Please be assured that should the content no longer meet our high standards, it will be removed from circulation.
Published April 2025
Review date April 2028
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