What is Dysfunctional Breathing?
You breathe anywhere between 4, 000 to 20, 000 times per day. The flow of oxygen to your body controls the function of the nervous system and internal organs. So when breathing becomes disrupted of dysfunctional it can produce pronounced symptoms. Some of these symptoms include chest tightness, chest pain, upper back tightness, anxiety, fatigue and lightheadedness.
Dysfunctional breathing can be secondary to another medical condition such as asthma, abdominal pain, or anxiety. It can be also be independent.
Why changing your breathing pattern helps?
By changing the way you breathe you can influence many biochemical reactions in your body. By learning to breathe correctly you are able to get improved air entry into your lungs. This can improve your mood, energy and exercise performance even pain relief.
How can an Osteopath help?
An Osteopath can assess you for dysfunctional breathing by looking at:
– The way you breathe
– The mobility in your upper back and ribs
– Tightness thought your respiratory muscles
– Your posture
They will then help to correct any dysfunction by instructing you on how to breathe correctly, releasing any tight muscles or restriction in the rib cage. They will also give you exercises to take home to manage your breathing in different situations.
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