What should a caregiver do after percussion during chest physiotherapy?

After percussion during chest physiotherapy, it is essential for the caregiver to encourage the client to cough. This action helps to mobilize and expel the mucus that may have been loosened during the percussion process. Percussion, which involves rhythmic clapping on the chest wall, is designed to help clear airway secretions, and following it up with a cough maximizes the effectiveness of this technique.

Encouraging the client to cough ensures that the cleared mucus can be eliminated from the respiratory system, thus improving lung function and reducing the risk of infection. This is especially important for patients with respiratory issues such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, or other conditions that produce excess mucus.

While changing the client's position or administering medication could be beneficial in various contexts, they do not directly follow the percussion phase in chest physiotherapy as effectively as encouraging a cough does. Allowing the client to sleep after the treatment may not facilitate the clearance of pulmonary secretions, which is the primary goal of chest physiotherapy.