Background: Chronic bronchitis is a common respiratory disorder characterized by chronic productive cough, excessive mucus secretion, and airway inflammation, leading to impaired airway clearance and reduced quality of life. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the management of chronic bronchitis through the application of airway clearance techniques. Postural Drainage (PD) and Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) are widely used interventions aimed at facilitating mucus clearance and improving respiratory function.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of Postural Drainage and Active Cycle of Breathing Technique in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Methodology: A comparative experimental study was conducted on patients diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. Participants were divided into two groups. Group A received Postural Drainage, while Group B received Active Cycle of Breathing Technique. The effectiveness of the interventions was assessed using the Lung Clearance Questionnaire (LCQ). Pre-intervention and post-intervention scores were recorded and analyzed using paired t-tests to determine the significance of improvement within each group.

Results: Group A demonstrated a significant reduction in LCQ scores from 70.88 ± 17.55 at baseline to 15.20 ± 5.70 following treatment, with a t-value of 13.50 and a p-value of 1.05 × 10⁻¹². Group B also showed significant improvement, with LCQ scores decreasing from 79.16 ± 11.37 to 24.80 ± 5.80, yielding a t-value of 23.48 and a p-value of 4.56 × 10⁻¹⁸. Both interventions produced statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001). However, Group A demonstrated lower post-treatment LCQ scores, suggesting comparatively greater effectiveness of Postural Drainage.

Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that both Postural Drainage and Active Cycle of Breathing Technique are effective airway clearance techniques for patients with chronic bronchitis. Both interventions significantly improved LCQ scores and reduced respiratory symptoms. However, Postural Drainage demonstrated comparatively greater effectiveness and may be considered a preferred intervention for enhancing airway clearance in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Keywords: Chronic Bronchitis, Postural Drainage, Active Cycle of Breathing Technique, Airway Clearance Techniques, Physiotherapy, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Lung Clearance Questionnaire.