Neurophysiological Facilitation of Respiration (NPF)
Neurophysiological Facilitation of Respiration (NPF)[edit | edit source]
Neurophysiological Facilitation of Respiration is a treatment technique used for respiratory care of patients with unconscious or non-alert, and ventilated, and also with a neurological condition
NPF is the use of external proprioceptive and tactile stimuli that produce reflex respiratory movement responses and that increase the rate and depth of breathing
Indication[edit | edit source]
Contraindication[edit | edit source]
Techniques[edit | edit source]
There are six techniques used in the NPF
- Perioral pressure
- Intercoastal stretch
- Thoracic vertebral pressure
- Co-contraction of the abdominal muscles
- Applied manual pressure
- Anterior stretch-lifting of the posterior basal area (Basal Lift)
Perioral pressure[edit | edit source]
Method[edit | edit source]
The pressure is applied to the patient's top lip by the therapist's finger - and maintained
Observation[edit | edit source]
- Increased epigastric excursion
- Deep breathing
- Swallowing
- Mouth closure
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
The primitive reflex response related to sucking
Intercoastal stretch[edit | edit source]
Method
Observation[edit | edit source]
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
Thoracic vertebral pressure[edit | edit source]
Method
Observation[edit | edit source]
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
Co-contraction of the abdominal muscles[edit | edit source]
Method
Observation[edit | edit source]
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
Applied manual pressure[edit | edit source]
Method
Observation[edit | edit source]
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
Anterior stretch-lifting of the posterior basal area (Basal Lift)[edit | edit source]
Method
