Postural drainage may not be helpful as a chest clearance on its own. It is most effective when used in conjunction with other types of airway clearance such as the breathing exercises or OPEP devices.

Postural drainage is using gravity to drain the sputum out of a specific area of your lungs. It used to be common to have people tipped over pillows or a wedge in a head down position to clear their chest. We do not recommend head down tilt anymore as it can worsen acid reflux and can increase cardiac problems.

Postural drainage can be used if you can feel sputum in a particular part of your lungs or have been told for example your right lung has a lot of sputum in it. If this is the case you can sit/lie in a position with that area uppermost to allow sputum to drain to the bigger airways where it can be coughed / huffed out.

If you do not know or cannot feel where the sputum is but find that you cough when you go to sleep, try doing your evening session of chest clearance lying for 10 minutes on your right side then roll over to your left and repeat. If you find this helps you can continue.