Manual chest techniques are traditional airway clearance methods that apply external forces against the chest wall to help break up and clear thick mucus. Techniques include chest percussion, vibration, shaking, and compression, which work by altering intrapleural pressure to dislodge secretions from the airway walls. They are used to treat conditions like COPD, cystic fibrosis, and atelectasis. Contraindications include recent surgery, fractures, or other medical emergencies involving the chest. Proper technique and positioning of the patient are important to safely perform manual chest techniques.