COVID-19 April 2020 
        Breathing Exercises
        In response to the current COVID-19 situation, it is important to be proactive in 
        maintaining a healthy and clear chest by completing regular breathing exercises. 
        The following technique is a simple way to encourage airway clearance.
        Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques
        Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques 
        (ACBT) can be used as a preventative 
        measure, helping to improve breathing 
        control, and is one way to clear sputum 
        or phlegm from the chest.
        t’s a simple eercise which is best done 
        regularly (ideally twice daily). t only 
        taes a few minutes to complete, and is 
        easily incorporated into daily routines.
        This technique combines normal, relaed 
        breathing, deep breathing and ‘huffing’, 
        and is effective for the ma ority of  
        people who have sputum.
        ­euro€ehab Allied ‚ealth ­etwor’s 
        physiotherapists can help you complete 
        this program effectively and may tailor  
        it to your specific needs and ability  
        via Telehealth.
             Repeat these exercises 2-3 times  
             per day for prevention, or more 
             frequently if you develop cold or  
                      flu symptoms.
        How to do it                                     Šou can repeat the previous steps a               ‚uffing helps to eep the airways  
                                                         couple of times if you are able. This part        open and allows the sputum to move  
                                                         is helping to open the airways, and get           up and out. A huff uses less energy  
        Breathing Components                             air moving deeper into your lungs. ‹hen           than coughing and is more effective.
        ƒ.  „it in a comfortable position, rela your    you feel there is some sputum to clear,           After a couple of huffs, you may need  
           shoulders and do a …†‡ normal relaed         try ˆ or … ‘huffs’ (described below).             to cough. This is quite normal. Šou may 
           tummy breaths (allowing your tummy                                                              also need to cough when huffing has  
           to epand as you inhale).                     Huffing                                           not been effective following repeated 
        ˆ.  ­ow tae ‰ long, slow, deep breaths in,                                                        attempts. Œnly use a cough if this is the 
                                                         A huff is a forced breath out.                    case. t is important to avoid long bouts 
           as deep as is comfortable, and then           ƒ.  „tart by taing a small to medium             of coughing as this can be very tiring and 
           slowly breathe out. Breathe in through           breath in.                                     may mae you feel breathless, or mae 
           your nose. Tae your time. f you can,                                                          your throat or chest sore or tight.
           hold your breath in for a couple of           ˆ.  Œpen your mouth wide.
           seconds. Breathe the air all the way          ….  Žorce all the air out of your open            How long should I do it for?
           out, eeping relaed. t may help to             mouth. This should be fairly fast and 
           breathe out through your mouth.                  you should feel your tummy muscles             €epeat the whole breathing cycle as 
        ….  €eturn to normal relaed tummy                  contract to help push the air out.             often as you need to in order to clear  
           breathing.                                       magine you are steaming up a mirror           as much sputum as you can.
        ‰.  Tae another ‰ long, slow, deep                 with your breath. ‹here possible  
           breaths as above.                                huff‘cough into a tissue to minimise 
                                                            droplet spread.                                        As a rough guide, complete  
        ‡.  €eturn to normal, relaed tummy              ‰.  A huff is quite short and sharp.                      for 2-4 cycles per session.
           breathing.
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