The life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has greatly improved in recent years (Anderson and Goodchild, 1976), and most CF clinics are now having to extend their care to the adolescent and young adult. Any patient, as he grows older, resents having to depend on another adult for chest physiotherapy. The authors, therefore, compared the use of manual with mechanical percussion as the latter would enable the patient to do his own treatment and thus gain independence (Denton, 1962). Chest physiotherapy still remains one of the most important aspects in the treatment of chest complications of cystic fibrosis. A mechanical device that allows the patient with cystic fibrosis to do his own chest physiotherapy will be of great benefit if it is as effective as manual percussion. 14 patients with cystic fibrosis using mechanical and manual percussion physiotherapy were studied by measuring sputum volumes, and FEV and FVC. Results with the mechanical percussor were as good as with the manual percussor and, therefore, it would be reasonable for the older patient to use the former on his own.
