AI Generated Podcast Airway clearance therapy aims to mobilize and remove secretions from the airways, ultimately improving gas exchange and reducing the work of breathing. The text discusses normal airway clearance mechanisms, including the mucociliary escalator and cough, as well as abnormal clearance caused by conditions like cystic fibrosis and neuromuscular disorders. It then explores various airway clearance techniques, including postural drainage, percussion and vibration, high-frequency chest wall compression, positive expiratory pressure therapy, mechanical insufflation/exsufflation, and cough techniques. Finally, the text emphasizes the importance of early mobilization and exercise in preventing secretion retention, particularly in individuals with acute and chronic pulmonary conditions.