How to do massage in bronchitis: drainage, vibration, jar, acupressure

A widely used physiotherapeutic method in pulmonology – massage for bronchitis – helps to reduce the intensity of the symptoms of this disease and improve the condition of the respiratory system.

This is possible thanks to the basic principles of the impact of therapeutic massage: improving blood circulation, circulation of lymphatic fluid, metabolism and tissue trophism.

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Indications for the procedure

Massage for bronchitis in adults and children with a subacute course of the disease is prescribed as an auxiliary means of complex therapy - to facilitate the coughing up of thick sputum that accumulates in the bronchi, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

For the same purpose, massage is used for chronic bronchitis with persistent cough, and massage for obstructive bronchitis with characteristic swelling of the bronchial mucosa, narrowing of their lumen and spasms of the respiratory muscles.

Correct chest massage for bronchitis, as well as back massage for bronchitis

It can significantly alleviate the condition by quickly clearing the bronchi of excess mucus and restoring their functions.

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Technique bronchitis massage

In the complex treatment of bronchitis, massage techniques such as drainage, vibration, cupping (or vacuum), point, honey and percussion (for bronchitis in young children) are used.

There is no special preparation before this physiotherapy procedure, only it should be carried out at least an hour and a half after eating. It is also recommended to take a bronchodilator drug that thins phlegm an hour before the procedure. Warm olive oil, massage or baby cream are used to lubricate the skin before the massage. The average duration of one massage session is 15-20 minutes.

The technique of any massage is based on various methods: rubbing, kneading, stroking, tapping, vibrating pressure, pinching, “chopping” or “sawing”.

Most often, a back massage is performed for bronchitis (lying on the stomach) - the back is rubbed in the area of the shoulder blades, between the shoulder blades (on both sides of the spine); the trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles are also affected (vibrations and stroking are directed upward - to the armpit area).

And the massage of the chest (in the “lying on the back” position, with the legs bent at the knees) begins with stroking and rubbing from its gray hair (sternum) to the sides - along the intercostal muscles in the direction of the spine (while inhaling); while exhaling, the massage movements are performed in the opposite direction - with periodic compression of the chest in the diaphragm area (using the pressure of the palms).

Next, about each of the above massage techniques.

Drainage massage for bronchitis

Drainage massage for bronchitis is a back massage that helps to remove sputum when coughing, which accompanies chronic and obstructive inflammation of the bronchi. To perform it, a cushion is necessarily placed under the abdomen so that the lower part of the chest in the patient's "lying on the stomach" position is above the level of the head.

Stroking of the back is done from the bottom up, that is, from the waist to the shoulder blades and shoulders. Then the masseur moves to the rib area: rubbing, "sawing" the intercostal muscles with the end of the palm, tapping with the whole palm, folded into a "boat".

After the massage, the patient should sit down, wrap up warmly and rest for half an hour. Sessions are held every day for a week.

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Vibration massage for bronchitis

Vibration massage for bronchitis differs from drainage massage only in that the tapping on the back is done with the edge of the palm, moving from the spine (stepping back from it at a distance of 4-5 cm) along the ribs - to the lateral surfaces of the chest. Every five minutes the patient is given the opportunity to cough up phlegm.

Cupping massage for bronchitis

Cupping or vacuum massage for bronchitis has a particularly intensive effect on the blood flow to the bronchi, which activates the intracellular metabolism of their tissues. It is most often used for chronic bronchitis.

This massage is performed using traditional medical cups, which are placed on the back in the usual way (by lighting a wick soaked in alcohol to create a vacuum). You can also use special vacuum massage cups, consisting of a glass part and a rubber part (which creates a vacuum in the cup when placed on the skin).

The jars are placed at a distance of a palm's width from the spine.

Cupping massage for bronchitis is performed by moving cups that are attached to the skin lubricated with oil.

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Acupressure for bronchitis

Acupressure for bronchitis or acupressure – finger pressure on active points of the body – is considered the most effective in chronic cases of the disease.

For bronchitis cough, you should press on the points located:

• at the top of the skin fold between the index finger and thumb;
• on the back of the neck - near the 7th cervical vertebra;
• on both sides of the IV cervical vertebra;
• between the collarbones - above the jugular fossa;
• on the chest - three fingers below the lateral protrusion of the clavicle, in the space between the first and second ribs;
• between the collarbone and the sternum bone.

When pressing on these points with the pad of the finger, rotational movements (directed counterclockwise) or vibrating movements are performed for 20-30 seconds.

Honey massage for bronchitis

Honey massage for bronchitis is performed using natural liquid honey, heated to +40°C. Massage movements on the front wall of the chest and in the area of the shoulder blades on the back are limited to rubbing the honey, which should continue until the honey is almost completely absorbed by the skin. After that, the remaining honey is washed off under a warm shower and the chest is wrapped for at least an hour.

Massage for bronchitis in children

Massage for bronchitis in children includes chest massage, vibration and drainage massage of the back - rising from the lumbar region to the shoulders.

But for children under three years of age, tapping is done not with the palm, but with the fingertips. Therefore, this type of drainage massage is often called percussion massage for bronchitis (from the Latin percutere - to strike).

The duration of one procedure should not exceed a quarter of an hour, during which the child should cough up phlegm several times.

Contraindications to the procedure

But massage for bronchitis is not always possible and not for everyone. First of all, massage is contraindicated for acute bronchitis - at the peak of inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. Also among the contraindications to its use are:

• subfebrile and elevated body temperature;
• any purulent inflammations (primarily pneumonia and pleurisy);
• dermatological diseases of infectious and allergic nature;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• the presence of inflamed or enlarged lymph nodes;
• severe arterial hypertension;
• heart failure and myocardial ischemia;
• oncological diseases;
• mental disorders.

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Consequences after the procedure

Massage physiotherapy does not have any noticeable side effects, but if the technique is not used correctly, there may be consequences after the procedure in the form of headaches (after affecting points in the cervical vertebrae), muscle pain (due to too much kneading and tapping).

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Complications after the procedure

Complications after the procedure such as pain in the heart area and increased blood pressure are not excluded. And if enlarged lymph nodes were affected, this may cause their inflammation.

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Care after the procedure

Care after a massage procedure for bronchitis consists of mandatory short rest and protection from hypothermia.

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