Fundamentals of Airway Clearance Techniques (ACT) for Physiotherapists managing Chronic Lung Disease
This two-day face to face course aims to cover the current evidence-based airway clearance techniques used to treat patients across a broad spectrum of chronic lung disease and age where increased sputum is a regular problem. Conditions such as bronchiectasis (CF and non-CF), primary ciliary dyskinesia, asthma and other chronic lung conditions that result in exacerbations, dysfunctional breathing, breathlessness and decreased exercise tolerance will be covered.
Event date
Event location
The Alfred Centre, Level 4, La Trobe University Lecture Theatre
99 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004
Date/Time:
Friday 25th August 2023 / 8.30am - 5:00pm (Note: 8:00am registration for 8:30am start)
Saturday 26th August 2023 / 8:30am - 4.30pm
The course will include lectures on the pathophysiology, techniques to address the problems and the rationale for the different airway clearance techniques including the studies underpinning them. There will be practical demonstrations of the use of the different airway clearance devices including patients with difference conditions demonstrating their use. This course is not designed to treat patients in the ICU or attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation Courses.
Program contents includes
- Autogenic drainage & assisted autogenic drainage: adult & paediatrics
- Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and oscillating PEP techniques and devices
- Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation
- Exercise as alternative form of ACT / adjunctive to ACT
- Inhalation therapy adjunctive to and in combination with ACT
- Positioning for optimal deposition of inhaled medications and airway clearance
- Dysfunctional breathing
- Common musculoskeletal problems in patients with chronic lung disease
- Clinical application of ACT in adults & children with chronic lung disease including bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and COPD
- Practical sessions for physiotherapists with patients demonstrating ACT
Prerequisites
This course is recommended for physiotherapists who have not completed a previous airway clearance course, or who are looking to refresh their knowledge in this area. This course is suitable for recently graduated physiotherapists working with patients with chronic lung disease.
Presenters
- Clinical A/Prof Brenda Button (Accredited ACT Instructor, IPG)
Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne. Brenda has over 30 years experience in paediatric and adult CF & respiratory medicine and teaches airway clearance courses nationally and internationally. - Janet Bondarenko, Physiotherapy Dept, The Alfred, Melbourne
Janet has more than 20 years experience in adult respiratory medicine & is currently undertaking a PhD by Research in patients with difficult to treat asthma and dysfunctional breathing in chronic lung disease. - Esta Tannenbaum, Senior Clinician, Royal Children’s Hospital
Esta previously worked at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street, London. She has more than 25 years experience managing infants and children with chronic lung disease.
Further information
For further information please contact Dr Brenda Button b.button@alfred.org.au.