The effect of active chest physiotherapy techniques on regional ventilation on preterm infants on ventilatory support.

INTERVENTION: Active chest physiotherapy techniques of cupping and vibrations will be compared with each other in a random order. The techniques will be performed for 1 minute and then the infants will be postioned and left to rest for 4 hours before the other intervention is performed. CONDITION: Preterm infants with respiratory disease on ventilatory support PRIMARY OUTCOME: Ventilation distribution SECONDARY OUTCOME: Heart rate Inccidence of cranial pathology eg. intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leucomalacia (PVL): routine ulstrasound scans. Oxygenation: Respiratory rate INCLUSION CRITERIA: Neonates who:are heavier than 750 gramsare less than or equal to 34 weeks gestationare >24 hours of age demonstrate clinical and/or radiological indications for active chest physiotherapy intervention such as increased secretions, increased ventilatory parameters, focal changes on chest x‐ray.