Who is the leaflet for? What is its aim?
This leaflet is intended to provide information on postural drainage, what its purpose is and how to use it.
What is postural drainage and how does it help?
Postural drainage is a technique that involves laying/ sitting in certain positions to drain secretions from your airways using gravity. Depending on the areas of your lungs most affected by secretions, there will be certain positions that will work best in maximising the benefit of your airway clearance.
What position should I use?
How do I use postural drainage?
After assessment from a respiratory physiotherapist you will be given advice on what positions will work best for you and how long you should be in each position. These positions are intended to be used at the same time as breathing exercises your therapist would have gone through with you. You should find yourself somewhere you feel comfortable and spacious enough to manoeuvre into different positions.
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/