Cliff

[skipwork]

I asked my physio to explain and take me through an adjunct device for AIR PHYSIOTHRAPY. She said, I've never heard of it.' Unbelievable.

Has anyone had any experience with this device for Brochiectasis, Lung Fibrosis and Sarcoidosis? Does it work? Can you get the device on the NHS?

[MELNEL]

Hiya ☺️ I believe that this is mentioned in the forum. Just use the search engine here above and air physio older post come up with it. I tried the Flutter in the past, so I believe it's something similar. Didn't work for me through and I got it from my GP.

Don't think that this one will be available over NHS.

[Bkin]

That will be possibly because some NHS staff only concern themselves with what they can prescribe to their patients. I believe the Aerobika is similar and available on NHS. I think you have to check with your respiratory team to see if the device will be appropriate for your health situation.

Good Luck

[Hidden]

A few us replied about this on your post the other day, Cliff, explaining that the air physio is not available on the nhs, and therefore not something NHS physios will be using, familiar with, or willing to endorse. Although the company claims it’s being used by patients with bronchiectasis and other productive lung conditions, those using it will be doing so because they’ve chosen to buy it, NOT on the direct recommendation of their medical team. This is partly because anyone that will clinically benefit from an oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device, which is what the air physio is marketed as, should be entitled to have an appropriate device on NHS prescription. There are much better OPEP devices available via the NHS than the air physio, including the Aerobika, acapella, and flutter.

[johnderby in reply to Hidden]

Nicely said Charlie👍

[Digger0 in reply to Hidden]

Well said Charlie. I spent years telling patients not to purchase "miracle" machines for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome just because it had a good write up. I even contacted one company and asked to see their peer reviewed articles and they had none, but they were advertising as"written up in many papers"!

[Hidden in reply to Digger0]

To be fair to the company, the air physio is actually based on completely sound science (for a change), but at one stage they were making some pretty unscientific claims in an effort to boost sales, and they are still maintaining it’s being widely used by both ncfb and cf patients, when the most they could realistically and honestly say is that it’s suitable in principle for these patient groups. They also leave a lot of room for improvement with communicating the need to clean and sterilise the device properly, along with not informing people that the international guidance states lung clearance devices given to patients where infection is an issue should be replaced on a yearly basis due to bacterial contamination. It’s also just not as good a device as other OPEP devices on the market at the same price point, which I strongly suspect is a good part of why the NHS haven’t adopted it - there’s no variable resistance, for starters, which makes it less helpful during acute exacerbations or with changes to long term lung function in either direction. If you really wanted to buy something yourself, you can privately purchase an aerobika for the same kind of money if you use the disabled VAT exemption, but the point remains: if you would benefit from an OPEP device, the NHS can and should provide them.

[skipwork in reply to Hidden]

Many, many thanks. Helpful advice.

[skipwork in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for listing the better options on the NHS. I wonder why my Consultant at the Royal Brampton suggested I do air physio which means buying a device myself?

[Hidden in reply to skipwork]

Can’t say, Cliff, other than if they want you to use a clearance device, then they should provide you with one. We’re not yet at the stage of financial ruin within the NHS where clinically necessary adjuncts have to be funded by patients. But also, the air physio is not currently endorsed by the NHS. If that changes in time, then fine, but I’d be going back to your consultant and asking them that exact question; if you think I’d benefit from OPEP, why can I not have an aerobika or acapella on prescription? Why are you suggesting I need to pay privately for my own?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

P.s. If for some reason they still insist on you buying something yourself, I maintain that you’d be better off buying one that is endorsed and used within the NHS.

[Canabeans in reply to skipwork]

It is available on the nhs you have to get your gp to prescribe it

[skipwork in reply to Canabeans]

Many thanks.