Two trials (Noll 1999; Noll 2000) compared chest physiotherapy
and routine treatment to placebo and routine treatment. In the
Chest physiotherapy for pneumonia in adults (Review) 6
Copyright © 2013 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd.
other four trials (Bjorkqvist 1997; Britton 1985; Graham 1978;
Tydeman 1989) chest physiotherapy and routine treatment was
compared with routine treatment alone. Among these trials, the
types of chest physiotherapies were significantly different to each
another, including conventional chest physiotherapy, osteopathic
manipulative treatment, active cycle of breathing techniques and
positive expiratory pressure. Both treatment groups and control
groups were given routine treatments such as antibiotics, oxygen
therapy and other drug therapies, if necessary.