Today we bring you from the Neuro-rehabilitation Unit a post dedicated to breathing exercises. We are going to explain what diaphragmatic breathing and middle or thoracic costal breathing are and their multiple benefits for our health, as well as useful tips to perform them correctly.
Breathing exercises:
These simple exercises help us become aware of our breathing pattern, improve ventilation and rib cage mobility.
They would be indicated for patients with reduced mobility, stiffness of the thorax (as in Parkinson’s disease), with shallower breathing due to muscle weakness, or patients with respiratory pathologies such as COPD or after pneumonia to avoid superinfection.
WHAT IS DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING?
It is the one in which we will use the diaphragm as the main muscle. Here is an image so that you can see its “umbrella” shape in the lower part of the rib cage:
It is the most efficient type of breathing because it consumes little energy and provides better ventilation, especially in the area of the lung bases, which are the most difficult to ventilate and where there can be problems of overinfection.
WHAT IS MIDDLE COSTAL BREATHING OR THORACIC?
In this type of breathing, the rib cage allows not only breathing sideways, but also forwards and backwards (as you will see in the videos) as well, allowing the contraction and dilation of the middle part of the lungs.
The intercostal muscles (muscles located between the ribs) are involved, the internal intercostals during expiration and the external intercostals during inspiration.
HOW ARE DIAPHRAGMATIC AND MIDDLE RIB OR THORACIC BREATHING PERFORMED?
We have prepared a video in which you will be able to visualize the two types of breathing of which we have spoken.
They will be performed both in the lying position on the back, a little incorporated and with the legs bent, and sitting upright.
Here it is:
We hope that you have liked and useful results. They are easy and we encourage you to practice them and introduce them in your routine exercise and stretching sessions .
For further information, please contact the Neuro-rehabilitation Unit of the Neurology Service of the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid or by e-mail: neurorrehab.rbi@ruberinternacional.es.
Author: PilarRada Romero, Physiotherapist specialized in neuro-rehabilitation, Neurology Department, Hospital Ruber Internacional
