Mucus/Phlegm and coughing issues Part 1

I found this today while perusing the internet for information concerning care for ALS patients.

http://youtu.be/gwtHH02pdqg

The subject of this video is REM X  < and I translated that as Remedial Exercise for ALS patients with the assistance of therapists......
This particular video does not really apply itself to what I received via the Post Office yesterday, a >
THUMPER  MINI PRO 2   electric massage unit.
but, has to do with some massage techniques, and  that IS related to the THUMPER in that it is a relief mechanism such as for the following>

I have intermittent issues with mucus/phlegm that accumulate in my chest and in my throat that is difficult to dislodge and because of the weakness I have in relationship to the muscles in my chest, causes ISSUES with my BREATHING....
THAT is a big problem for me!

In my research on the subject of  chest congestion relief, I came across a number of articles pointing to relief achieved by PERCUSSION MASSAGE on the chest / back area of the body which assist in controlling bronchitis and even possibly avoiding pneumonia.  The 'thumping' helps to loosen and dislodge the mucus/phlegm.  This can be helped even further with massage that helps to 'drain' the lobes of the lungs....

The percussion massage technique can be applied by hand.  
There are many times, especially at night, that I ask my spouse to 'thump' on my back and chest to loosen up the mucus/phlegm so that I may expel it by coughing...eventually.

I should point out, that one of the other issues of ALS  is the difficulty in coughing efficiently in order to accomplish what a cough is supposed to do>
 WHY DO I COUGH? 
Because there is excess mucus or other irritant matter from external sources – dirt, smoke, household cleaners – lying on the surface of the respiratory tract, and your body is trying to expel them by propelling it violently upwards.

I have had a continuous decrease of coughing capabilities....it seems to me, for the past two years (early symptom of ALS?) or more....
I get,  what used to seem, as  seasonal congestion....for many years in the past and that lead to bronchial issues (and last November pneumonia).
I would get a 'tickle' in my throat that would cause uncontrolled coughing without any plausible reason...
As a result, that coughing would lead to a lot pain in my body.

But, back to the mucus/phlegm.  Eventually, I will be using a suction machine and a cough assist machine to help evacuate the mucus/phlegm as I won't be able to do it myself. 

In the meantime, I am using other methods to treat this issue and I have been reading that the electronic percussion type massage tools can assist in loosening the mucus/phlegm so that it may be expelled easier than just trying to cough it up and out on my own. It would make it easier on my husband to apply the percussion Thumper rather than manually 'beating' my back/chest.

I will give my evaluation of this machine/ tool in a consequent post.

ALSO>>>

I will continue to research the usefulness of the percussion method of relief to the congestion issue, and will post accordingly.
So, stay tuned :)