Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regards to medical devices.
AirPhysio, short for Airway Physiotherapy, manufactures a medical device that they claim can help treat asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by expanding the lungs.
In this article we’ll review medical research to determine if the AirPhysio device is likely to be safe and effective, and whether we recommend the product.
How Does It Work?
AirPhysio is one of a class of medical devices called Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) devices. These devices have been studied in published medical research, and proven to be at least somewhat effective.
A medical review of non-pharmaceutical treatments for airway clearance detailed how OPEP device use can clear mucus from the airways through targeted pressure changes. The review does not detail the ability of these devices to increase airway volume, other than one device called the VersaPAP.
Both asthma and COPD are associated with increased mucus in the lungs, so the AirPhysio may help to treat these conditions because of its potential impact on mucus function rather than lung expansion.
It’s worth noting that we couldn’t find any medical research on the AirPhysio device specifically, just the broad class of OPEP devices. AirPhysio doesn’t appear to publish any medical research on their site, so we’ll assume none exists.
AirPhysio Side Effects
Because OPEP devices use manual methods to clear airways rather than chemical, they tend to have a negligible side effect profile. The reviews we examined while researching this article didn’t even contain side effect or adverse event sections, which are common in medical review of different therapies.
A medical study on an OPEP device for COPD highlighted how the devices “have low safety risks compared to pharmacologic therapies.”
This seems to be a major benefit of OPEP devices, because even asthma inhalers can cause side effects, and the corticosteroid inhalers have some documented serious risks such as adrenal suppression and bone loss.
Our Recommendation
While OPEP devices generally seem like a safe and effective way to manage asthma and COPD effects, we would recommend that patients speak to their doctor about the VersaPAP rather than the AirPhysio.
As referenced in the section on device efficacy, the VersaPAP was the only OPEP device shown in the previously-linked medical review of OPEP devices to create airway expansion. This furthers clearance of mucus and causes lung expansion.
It’s unclear from VersaPAP’s site if this is even available for long-term use by patients, or if it’s only cleared for post-surgery use, so we recommend that patients speak to their doctor about this.
