Resources

Take a look at our information resources to help you manage your CF.

Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) comes with unique daily challenges—and having the right information and support can make a huge difference. This page brings together YouTube videos that can help people with CF manage their health and well-being.

Whether you're looking for practical advice on managing your diet and diabetes, or chest physiotherapy techniques. These resource are designed to complement your care, however if you have any questions about any aspects of care, please contact the team for advice.

To jump to a particular topic, click the section title below:

• Diet
• Physiotherapy
• Diabetes

Diet

Nutrition plays a vital role in the health of people with cystic fibrosis a healthy nutritional status and body weight is vital for maximising and maintaining lung function.

Eating well

Watch our ‘Refresh – Eating Well on CFTR Modulators’ webinar to find out more about how you can introduce healthy eating principles into your diet to help you manage your weight.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is an essential part of managing cystic fibrosis (CF). It covers lots of aspects of your health including airway clearance, exercise, postural work, pelvic floor health and inhaled therapies — giving you the tools to live life to the fullest. For people with CF, learning and practising physiotherapy techniques is key to taking care of yourself and staying on top of your health.

Autogenic drainage (AD)

Autogenic drainage (AD) is a technique that uses changes in your breathing to clear mucus and does not require equipment. This video explains how it works and demonstrates how to do it.

Active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT)

Active cycle of breathing techniques, or ACBT, is an airway clearance technique. It uses a number of different breathing techniques that, when combined, help to clear mucus from the lungs. This video explains how ACBT works and how to do it.

Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure (OPEP)

Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy or OPEP is a technique used to clear mucus from your airways. Oscillatory devices interrupt the flow of the breath out and provide resistance and vibrations as you exhale which helps to loosen mucus stuck to the airways. This video covers the Aerobika device, there are other devices available, your physiotherapist will teach you to use the device you have.

Positive expiratory pressure (PEP)

PEP stands for positive expiratory pressure. Breathing out through a PEP device causes a resistance which keeps your airways open, allowing air to get behind mucus so that it can be cleared more easily. This video explains how PEP works and how to do it.

Bubble PEP

Bubble PEP is a fun and playful way to make airway clearance more enjoyable - especially for kids. PEP stands for positive expiratory pressure. This video explains how bubble PEP works and how to do it.

Infant PEP and percussion

Percussion and infant PEP are commonly used airway clearance techniques. Percussion (patting) is used to help move mucus in the lungs. It is usually done in different positions. Infant or baby PEP stands for positive expiratory pressure. A soft mask is placed on your baby’s face. As your baby breathes through the mask, a small pressure is made as they breathe out. This pressure holds open the tubes in the lungs and helps to push mucus up and out of their lungs.

Pelvic floor health

Many people with cystic fibrosis (CF) have episodes of urinary incontinence. This is often made worse by periods of lots of coughing. This video explains how urinary incontinence occurs and offers advice on how to minimise your symptoms.

Posture

There is no perfect posture and what works for one person may be different for another, but certain postures can impact lung function. All exercise can work on your postural muscles and help with your flexibility. Sometimes you might need to do more targeted exercises to help with strength and mobility specific to your CF. This video goes through several stretches that may help with your posture.

Diabetes

Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia (Low blood sugar) symptoms, management and treatment

Pancreas

This video will help you to understand what pancreatic insufficiency is, why replacement pancreatic enzymes such as Creon are needed to aid digestion and how it can also lead to CF Diabetes.

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