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Breathing Exercises

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23 views

Breathing Exercises

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youtabecom280
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Breathing Exercises

Introduction

Breathing through the nose

Breathing is an function controlled by the autonomic nervous system and is also


under volotional control. Breathing exercises are a form of exercise which can
improve the overall efficiency at which the lungs function. They can be helpful in
individual with both healthy lungs as well as those with impaired lung function. In
the absence of disease our breathing becomes altered with stress and when left
unchecked over time can result in disordered breathing patterns. (breathing pattern
disorder) Disordered breathing can upset the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange
and contribute to anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, and other physical and emotional
disturbances. [1]

Benefits of breathing exercises include a variety of health-related reasons. eg: to


enhance the respiratory system by improving
ventilation; strengthening respiratory muscles; make breathing more efficient;
and for relieving stress and anxiety. [2]

Diaphragmatic Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing

Diaphragmatic breathing is a type of breathing exercise that helps strengthen


the diaphragm, the main muscle that helps with breathing, as it represents 80% of
breathing. Diaphragmatic exercises help to make people feel relaxed and rested. [2]

This breathing exercise is also sometimes called belly breathing or abdominal


breathing.

Technique:

 Position patient in a gravity-assisted position eg. Semi fowler's position.

 Focusing on the Diaphragm - Place one hand on the chest and the other on your
stomach. Take a slow deep breath, paying attention to which hand moves. In
diaphragmatic breathing, the stomach hand should move most
 Slow the breathing - Inhale to fully inflate the lungs, then slowly exhale.
Breathing out through the nose can help control exhalation rate. Pause briefly
after exhaling then inhale again.

Pursed Lip Breathing


Pursed-lip breathing is a breathing technique that consists of exhaling through tightly
pressed (pursed) lips and inhaling through the nose with the mouth closed. It is an
effective way of slowing down breathing and increasing exhalation time allowing
more air to be released with each breath cycle.

This technique has been found to benefit people who have obstructive lung diseases
eg chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)[3] and asthma leading to dyspnea
during exertion.
Deep Breathing

Deep breathing helps to reexpand lungs and can be useful for improving ventilation
esp following surgery where certain areas of the lungs may be underventilated due to
pain. It can also be called lateral costal or umbrella breathing and can be done
unilaterally or bilaterally. Deep breaths are also necessary for sputum mobilisation
and form part ot the Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques mentioned below.

Technique:

 While standing or sitting, place your hands on the lower aspect of the rib cage.
 Instruct patient to breathe out and apply pressure in downward and inward
direction.
 Shortly before instructing the patient to breathe in, apply quick stretch in the
down and inward direction
 With the tactile stimulation and cuing, facilitate patient to take a deep breath in
 Slowly release your breath by exhaling through the nose

Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques


The Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBT) is an active breathing technique
performed by the patient and can be used to mobilize and clear excess pulmonary
secretions and to generally improve lung function. Once ACBT has been taught, the
patient can be encouraged to use it independently without the supervision of a
physiotherapist. This exercise does not require the use of any special equipment.

Box Breathing

Box breathing can be helpful with relaxation. Box breathing is a breathing exercise to
assist patients with stress management and can be implemented before, during, and/or
after stressful experiences. Box breathing involves visualizing a journey around the
four sides of a square, pausing while traveling horizontally, and breathing in while
traveling up the square and out while traveling down it. This exercise can be
implemented in many environments, not requiring a calm environment to be
effective.
 Step One: Breath in through the nose for a count of 4.
 Step Two: Hold your breath for a count of 4.
 Step Three: Breath out for a count of 4.
 Step Four: Hold your breath for a count of 4.
 Repeat[4]

Segmental breathing is a breathing technique that focuses on specific


areas of the lungs to improve ventilation and oxygenation. It can also
help clear mucus from the lungs.

Here are some steps for performing segmental breathing:


1. Apply firm pressure to the area of the lung you want to focus on
2. Inhale deeply through your mouth
3. Hold your breath for a couple of seconds
4. Exhale
5. Repeat until you can perform the breathing maneuver correctly
You can also try these techniques for segmental breathing:
 Lateral costal breathing: Focuses on the lateral parts of the lungs
 Posterior basal expansion exercises: Focuses on the posterior segments of the lower
lobes
To guide airflow to specific areas, you can place your hands on different parts
of your chest or abdomen.

Other breathing exercises that can improve lung health include:


 Incentive spirometry: Uses a handheld device to encourage deep breathing and lung
expansion
 Aerobic activities: Like walking, running, or jumping rope
 Muscle-strengthening activities: Like weight-lifting or Pilates

Glossopharyngeal breathing (GPB), also known as "frog breathing", is a


breathing technique that uses the muscles in the mouth and throat to
force air into the lungs:
Step Description

1 Open the mouth to allow air into the oral and pharyngeal cavities

2 Seal the mouth with the lips or tongue, and use the tongue and pharynx muscles to propel air into the
lungs

3 Close the glottis to trap the air in the lungs

GPB can help with:


 Clearing mucus from the lungs
 Increasing lung volumes
 Prolonging breath-hold duration
 Performing a functional cough
 Increasing the volume of the speaking voice
 Maintaining chest wall mobility
To practice GPB:
1. Stand in an upright position in front of a mirror
2. Start with a deep breath and hold
3. Say the word “GUP” with a low voice volume
You can practice GPB 2–3 times per day to improve chest movement and
stretching. If you have mucus, you can practice more often, but no more than
every 10 minutes to avoid dizziness.
GPB can be helpful for people with neuromuscular diseases or spinal cord
injuries with weak breathing muscles. It can also be used by elite athletes as a
training method to enhance stamina.

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