Hi. As a respiratory therapist, I’ve performed percussion therapy, and it’s still occasionally used today. The goal of this technique is to send vibrations through the chest to help loosen thick and stubborn secretions from the airway walls, making them easier to cough up.
An alternative that’s often more accessible is the Acapella device, which you can read about here: https://copd.net/clinical/flutter-valves-acapellas. When you breathe into it, the device creates vibrations in your chest, similar to manual percussion, and offers the same benefits in a safer, user-friendly way. If you’re interested, you can ask your doctor to write a prescription, as these devices are relatively easy to obtain.
Regarding life vests, some of my patients use them, but they are very expensive and often difficult to get approved by insurance. However, it’s worth discussing with your doctor to see if it might be an option for you. What do you think? John. community moderator.