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. The pressure is maintained for the length of time that the therapist wishes the patient to breathe in the activated pattern. (As a precautionary measure the use of surgical gloves is advised to avoid picking up a contaminant and/or carrying contaminants from one patient to another).
Observation[edit | edit source]
- Increased epigastric excursions
- As the stimulus is maintained the epigastric excursions may increase so that movement is transmitted to the upper thorax and the patient appears to be 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