Vest therapy can help break the serious cycle of excess mucus, lung infections and further lung damage for patients living with chronic respiratory conditions.
Patients who use vest therapy have been shown to experience fewer pneumonias, fewer hospitalizations,1-5 and better results on pulmonary function tests,6,7 which measure how well the lungs are working.
The InCourage system utilizes triangle waveform technology, which delivers a brief, intense, chest physical therapy (CPT)-like “thump” to the chest. Research has shown triangle waveform clears up to 20% more mucus than competing technology.8
Active venting – another innovation unique to the InCourage system – immediately releases air in the vest in response to the user’s breath, allowing a deeper, more comfortable breath during therapy.
I was on antibiotics every month for the last 40 years. I’ve used the InCourage system for over two years [and] I haven’t had to take antibiotics.* I have so much more energy, more of the desire to want to do things. It’s completely changed my life.”
– Marjorie M., CA, bronchiectasis patient
*Individual results may vary
1. Giarraffa P, Berger KI, Chaikin AA, Axelrod FB, Davey C, Becker B. Assessing efficacy of high-frequency chest wall oscillation in patients with familial dysautonomia. CHEST 2005;128:3377-3381. Note: Year-long study of 15 patients with pulmonary disease due to Riley-Day syndrome.
2. Overgaard PM, Radford PJ. High-frequency chest wall oscillation improves outcomes in children with cerebral palsy. CHEST 2005; 128 (4): 354S. Note: A retrospective quality assurance review on 13 children with cerebral palsy.
3. Plioplys AV, Lewis S, Kasnicka I. Pulmonary vest therapy in pediatric long-term care. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2002;3:318-321. Note: Study of 7 quadriplegic cerebral palsy patients, 4 having epilepsy.
4. Lechtzin N, Wolfe LF, Frick KD. The Impact of High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation on Healthcare Use in Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2016;13(6):904-909. Note: 426 patients NMD patients.
5. Barto T, et al. Registry Outcomes for HFCWO Vest Therapy in Adult Patients with Bronchiectasis. Poster presented at: Am Thor Soc Intern Confer; 15 May 2016; San Francisco, Calif. Note: 2596 BE patient registry study comparing hospitalizations, antibiotic use and self-reported QOL metrics before and after HFCWO therapy.
6. Warwick WJ, Hansen LG. The long-term effect of high-frequency chest compression therapy on pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonal 1991; 11:265-271. Note: 16 CF patient study comparing pulmonary function following CPT to HFCC therapy.
7. Arens R, Gozal D, Omlin KJ, Vega J, Boyd KP, Keens TG, Woo MS. Comparison of high-frequency chest compression and conventional chest physiotherapy in hospitalized patients with cystic fibrosis. Am J Repir Crit Care Med 1994; 150: 1154-1157. Note: 50 CF patient study comparing conventional CPT to HFCC.
8. Milla CE, Hansen LG, Weber A, Warwick WJ. High-Frequency chest compression: effect of the third generation compression waveform. Biomed Instrum Technol 2004; 38:322-328. Note: 8 CF patient study comparing triangular vs. sine waveform technology.
9. RespirTech’s bronchiectasis patient outcomes program consists of follow-up calls at periodic intervals for up to two years to encourage HFCWO adherence and ensure the device is properly set for individual needs.
10. Methodology: As of 3/31/2020, self-reported data from nearly 18,000 bronchiectasis patients.
