COPD What Is Chest Percussion? What to expect when undergoing this procedure By Deborah Leader, RN Deborah Leader, RN Deborah Leader RN, PHN, is a registered nurse and medical writer who focuses on COPD. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 18, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Sanja Jelic, MD Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD Sanja Jelic, MD is board-certified in pulmonary disease, sleep medicine, critical care medicine, and internal medicine. She is an assistant professor and attending physician at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Purpose Risks and Contraindications During Therapy Chest percussion is a form of physical therapy used frequently in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, to help clear the airways from mucus. It involves a therapist or loved one clapping on your chest or back to help loosen the thick mucus in your lungs so you can cough it up. Chest percussion also can be performed using electronic devices or other instruments that vibrate your chest. Universal Images Group/Getty Images Purpose Conditions like COPD and cystic fibrosis can result in major mucus build-up in your airways, making it hard to take a deep breath. While there are several medications that can help loosen mucus, making it easier to breathe, chest percussion is often used to help achieve this goal. Strategic clapping on the chest or back shakes the sticky mucus loose. Chest percussion is considered a part of chest physical therapy (CPT), which also incorporates postural drainage and vibration, both of which can help loosen and drain mucus as well. Performing Postural Drainage for People With COPD 1:49 Click Play to Learn About Chest Percussions This video has been medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD. Risks and Contraindications Chest percussion is a very safe procedure if performed correctly and carefully. Complications are unusual but may include: An increase in hypoxemia (a drop in blood oxygen saturation levels)Severe bronchospasmChoking on loosened mucus secretions from other lung lobesDamage to internal organs Before Therapy Your healthcare provider or respiratory therapist will give you specific instructions on how and when to have someone perform chest percussion on you. You should always follow the instructions from your healthcare team, but here are some general guidelines on how the procedure typically is performed. Timing The best time to perform chest percussion is in the morning since it's likely that your lungs will have built up mucus during the night. If you have a problem with coughing overnight, you can consider performing it right before you go to bed as well. Your healthcare provider will advise you on the best times to perform the technique. Chest percussion works best after a bronchodilator treatment, so you might want to keep that in mind. It's not a good idea, though, to perform chest percussion right after you've eaten; banging on your chest or back following even a small meal could make you sick. Location Chest percussion can be performed while standing, sitting upright, reclining, or lying down on a firm, flat surface. Ask your therapist or healthcare provider which position is right for you. What to Wear Note that the procedure shouldn't be performed on bare skin. Make sure you're wearing a shirt or use a towel to cover the area being treated. During Therapy You'll likely be instructed to perform chest percussion at least once per day in several different positions: SeatedOn your back with a pillow under your chest, so that your head tilts downwardOn your stomach, also with your head tilted downward It's important that the person performing manual percussion uses correct hand positioning: The hand should be in a cupped position, with fingers and the thumb together. They will then quickly and repeatedly clap you on the back of the chest with their hand. The percussion should be relatively vigorous and rhythmic, but it should not be painful. If pain occurs, the hand may not be properly cupped and should be adjusted. You'll know that the person performing this technique is using proper hand positioning when you hear a hollow sound with each percussion. Chest percussion should only be done in specific areas: Over the ribsOn the sides of the chestOn the sides of the back Care must be taken to avoid the breastbone, spine, and lower back, as percussing could harm internal organs. Your healthcare provider can show you exactly where to perform chest percussion. If you're using postural drainage with chest percussion, you should hold your position for at least five minutes (or as long as your healthcare provider advises) to allow as much mucus as possible to drain from your lungs. Combining chest percussion with coughing or other methods of bringing up loosened mucus can also be helpful. Should you opt to use a mechanical airway clearance device instead of manual chest percussion, speak with your healthcare provider about how to properly use it. A Word From Verywell The ultimate goal of chest percussion is to loosen mucus secretions enough so that they may be coughed up. One of the benefits of this manual technique is that it can be performed in adults and children as young as 5. While clinical trials have not successfully illustrated its effectiveness in an evidence-based study, chest percussion remains an important part of treatment plans for many with COPD and cystic fibrosis due to anecdotal evidence of its benefit. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. NIH MedlinePlus. Postural drainage. Jelic S, Cunningham JA, Factor P. Clinical review: airway hygiene in the intensive care unit. Crit Care. 2008;12(2):209. doi:10.1186/cc6830 Simonelli C, Vitacca M, Vignoni M, Ambrosino N, Paneroni M. Effectiveness of manual therapy in COPD: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Pulmonology. doi:10.1016/j.pulmoe.2018.12.008 Additional Reading Cross JL, Elender F, Barton G et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness of manual chest physiotherapy techniques on quality of life at six months post exacerbation of COPD (MATREX): a randomised controlled equivalence trial. BMC Pulm Med. 2012;12:33. doi:10.1186/1471-2466-12-33 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). Basics of Postural Drainage and Percussion.