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The therapeutic approach in childhood asthma can be substantially supported by various forms of respiratory therapy. Objective improvements and increased well-being have been demonstrated by different authors. The physiology of correct and defective breathing are outlined briefly. The major aim of respiratory therapy is the return to normal breathing patterns including normalized clearing functions of the lung. If successful even moderately severe attacks of bronchial asthma may be averted. Personality changes in the form of increased self-confidence and loss of fear of dyspnoea are important. Part 1 outlines physicial treatment forms such as postural drainage and percussions of the chest.

Children with obstruction mainly due to spasms of bronchial smooth muscle will benefit most from breathing exercises. Attainment of the individual physiological balance of muscular, nervous and psychogenic tensions--the eutonic tension--is of great importance for control of regular unhurried breathing. This will be supported by stimulation of nasal breathing which increases diaphragmatic excursion. The eutonic state is the fundamental basis for success of chest rotations and rhythmic movements to stimulate further relaxation. Awareness of the fact that breaths come by themselves -- "automatically" -- reduces anxiety of shortness of breath. Observations of a group of asthmatic children in a summer camp support this form of treatment of asthma.

pH, pCO2, pO2 and where possible DAaO2 determinations were done before, immediately after and 30 minutes after chest physiotherapy in 4 groups (respiratory adaptation disturbance, pneumonia, hyaline membrane disease--controlled ventilation and RDS--nasal-CPAP) of mature and premature infants and in a group of healthy infants. The most striking alterations of the parameters investigated were found in infants treated with nasal-CPAP and controlled ventilation where especially a decrease of pH and increase of pCO2 was observed. After small increases of paO2 immediately after physiotherapy the paO2 values and concomitantly DAaO2 values 30 minutes after chest physiotherapy fell below the levels before physiotherapy. There was no significant change from pretreatment values in any group of infants. A physiotherapist experienced in the care of infants with respiratory diseases is most important for achieving satisfactory results.