Autogenic Drainage Technique

Preparatory Stage

• Hydration:
  • Drink water until throat feels moist.
• Nose Clearing:
  • Blow your nose gently with tissue.
  • Use a slow, quiet, long breath out through the nose.
  • Ensure nose is clear before proceeding to breathing technique.

Breathing Technique

• Hand Placement:
  • One hand on chest, one hand on stomach.
  • Ensures proper breathing sequence.
• Breathing Sequence:
  • Breath In:
    • Begin by breathing into the stomach, then chest.
  • Breath Out:
    • Relax mouth for inaudible, relaxed breath out.
    • Breathe out fully to detect where a crackle might be (indicates sputum location).
  • Small Breaths:
    • Take a small breath in followed by breathing out.
    • Focus on breathing into low lung volumes.
• Progression:
  • Middle Lung Volumes:
    • Once crackle moves higher, increase breath in.
    • Shift to breathing into middle lung volumes.
  • Top Lung Volumes:
    • Take a slightly larger breath in to reach top of lungs.
    • Small breath out and a long breath in.

Coughing

• When to Cough:
  • Feel the need to cough upon reaching the top of lungs.
  • Limit coughs to two to avoid lung trauma.
• Post-Cough Evaluation:
  • Return to test breath to check for remaining sputum or crackle sounds.
  • Repeat cycle if necessary.