Breathe Easy with the 2026 Lippincott Respiratory Practice Exam – Ace Your Test and Inhale Success!

Chest physiotherapy is a therapeutic technique employed to improve respiratory function and involves several strategies aimed primarily at clearing airway secretions and promoting lung expansion. Option B is the most accurate because one of the primary goals of chest physiotherapy is to facilitate mucus clearance from the airways. Techniques such as percussion, vibration, and postural drainage help mobilize and expel mucus, which can be particularly beneficial for patients with conditions that lead to excess mucus production, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or pneumonia. Improved ventilation results from increased airflow and reduced airway obstruction, which in turn can enhance gas exchange and overall respiratory function.

While increasing physical fitness and stamina, reducing the risk of infection, and enhancing the ability to perform daily activities may be associated benefits of improved airway clearance and better respiratory health, they are secondary effects of the primary actions of chest physiotherapy. The main focus remains on improving lung function by managing mucus, which makes option B the most relevant choice in the context of how chest physiotherapy directly benefits patients with respiratory issues.