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Breathing
is defined as “the exchange of gases between the
cells of an organism and the external environment”.
While it is true that the physiology of breathing is
complex and extensive, the process of getting those
gases from the environment to the cellular level of
the body can be observed and understood by the
general, non-medical population. Understanding the
mechanics of breathing can facilitate the doing of
breathing exercises for general relaxation, pain
management, general health promotion and the
increase of energy.
There are three main kinds of breathing:–
1.) Chest
Breathing
: Breathing with
the upper chest is the most effortful and least
productive of the three. The chest and neck muscles
lift the breast-bone and upper ribs. As the
breast-bone comes up, it also comes forward. This
inflates the upper lobes of the lungs. Because they
are small, only a small volume of air is drawn in.
This means rapid, short breaths. The effort involved
is considerable. It is also a drag on the head, neck
and shoulders so that these have to be braced in
order to provide an Archimedean point from which the
upper chest can be lifted. This type of breathing is
characteristic of anyone who is struggling for
breath.
2.) Belly
Breathing
: This method of
breathing also pushes down on the abdominal organs.
They have to go somewhere. As a result, they end up
bellying out in front — a characteristic of
unsupported diaphragmatic breathing. The fact that
many people breathe in this way is the main reason
why a ‘beer-belly’, or ‘middle-aged spread’,
is so frequent even in people who are not
over-weight, don't drink beer and are not yet
middle-aged!. This piston-like action is often
believed to be the proper action of the diaphragm.
In fact, it's only one part of the story. The best
use of the diaphragm is only possible when it is
getting its proper support, as we shall now see.
3.) Diaphragmatic
Breathing
: The dome-shaped
diaphragm muscle is attached by its edges to the
lowest ribs, the costal arch, the base of the
breast-bone and (at the back) to the front of the
lumbar spine. In supported diaphragmatic
breathing, because the abdominal organs are
supported in place, the top of the diaphragm cannot
come down as much as it does in unsupported
diaphragmatic breathing. (We will look later at what
provides this support). This support provides the
“Archimedean point” enabling the diaphragm to
lift the lower ribs. (These lower ribs are the ones
which join together in front to form the costal arch
instead of attaching directly to the breast-bone).
Now, the way these ribs are jointed to the spine
means that, as they come up, they must also come out
sideways (not forwards as the upper ribs do). To
picture the movement of one of these ribs, imagine
starting to lift the handle of a bucket from its
rest position, where it lies against the side of the
bucket; imagine lifting it up-and-out sideways.
The movement of the rib is just like this. The
result of all the lower ribs moving together in this
way is a big sideways expansion: an expansion of
one's back just as
much as it is an expansion of one's lower chest.
This inflates the large lower lobes of the lungs
very considerably
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