Types of Breathing Exercises in Physiotherapy: Benefits & Techniques

In physiotherapy, we treat an irregular breathing pattern with different forms of exercise. This breathing exercise can benefit the respiratory system by improving ventilation, strengthening respiratory muscles, regulating the balance of O2 and CO2, and decreasing stress levels and anxiety levels.

Understanding Types of Breathing Exercises in Physiotherapy

Diaphragmatic Breathing

It’s a type of breathing exercise that strengthens the diaphragm, Diaphragm is responsible for 80% of breathing. It helps people to feel relaxed and rested.

Breathing Technique

• Your posture should assist the gravity.
• Place one hand on the chest and the other on your stomach. Take a deep breath, and observe the flow of the hand.
• Slow breathing, inhale fully, and slowly exhale. Breathing out through the nose helps to regulate the exhalation rate.

Pursed lip Breathing

In this breathing exercise, we slowly breathe and increase exhalation time allowing more air to release. This exercise was found to benefit people who have obstructive lung disease ex Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Asthma.

Breathing Technique

• Your posture should assist to the gravity
• Inhaling through the nose
• Exhaling through tightly pressed lips

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing helps in the expansion of the lungs can can be useful to improve ventilation and oxygen flow throughout the body.

This exercise helps after surgery to reach certain areas of the lungs that may have been under-ventilated due to pain.

Breathing Technique

Here are some techniques that you can follow:

• While standing or sitting, place your hand on the lower part of the rib cage.
• Breathe out and the physiotherapist will apply pressure in a downward and inward direction.
• Before you breathe in, the therapist will apply a quick stretch in the down and inward direction.
• With the tactile stimulation and curing, you can take a deep breath in.
• Release your breath by exhaling through the nose.

Box Breathing

It can help in relaxation. This breathing exercise helps in stress release and control mood swings as well as it can be implemented before and after any stressful situation.

Breathing Technique

• Breathing from the nose for 4 seconds.
• Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
• Breathe out from your mouth for 4 seconds.
• Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
• Repeat.

Breathing Exercise You Can Try At Home

You can try diaphragmatic Breathing, pursed lip Breathing, and Box breathing at home at any time. You can try this at your leisure time or in the middle of any stressful situation.

This breathing style can provide relief from mood swings and other emotional stress. whereas, deep breathing should be performed by a professional physiotherapist for maximum result and accuracy as well as safety.

Research Findings On Breathing Exercise Benefits In Physiotherapy

1. Stress Reduction and Mental Health

Reduced Stress Levels: Studies indicate that diaphragmatic breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering cortisol (stress hormone) levels and promoting relaxation.

Improved Anxiety and Depression: Research published in Frontiers in Psychiatry (2017) found that slow, controlled breathing exercises significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by regulating the autonomic nervous system.

Enhanced Focus and Mental Clarity: Breathing exercises improve oxygen delivery to the brain, enhancing cognitive function and focus.

2. Cardiovascular Health

Lower Blood Pressure: Regular practice of deep breathing has been shown to reduce blood pressure by improving vagal tone and reducing the body’s stress response.

Improved Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Controlled breathing enhances HRV, a marker of cardiovascular health, making the heart more resilient to stress.

3. Pulmonary Health

Better Lung Function: Breathing techniques like diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing help individuals with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, and bronchitis improve lung capacity and efficiency.

Clearing Airway Blockages: Techniques such as pranayama or slow nasal breathing have been shown to assist in clearing airways and enhancing oxygen uptake.

4. Pain Management

Reduced Chronic Pain: Research from Pain Medicine (2019) found that breathing exercises reduce chronic pain by calming the central nervous system and decreasing the perception of pain.

Labor Pain Relief: Controlled breathing techniques are widely used in childbirth to manage pain and promote relaxation.

5. Sleep Improvement

Improved Sleep Quality: Practices like 4-7-8 breathing or box breathing help individuals fall asleep faster and achieve deeper, more restorative sleep by calming the mind and body.

6. Enhanced Athletic Performance

Increased Endurance: Breathing exercises improve oxygen efficiency, benefiting athletes by enhancing stamina and reducing fatigue.

Faster Recovery: Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing aid in post-exercise recovery by promoting efficient oxygen exchange and reducing muscle tension.

7. Emotional Regulation

Better Emotional Control: Research shows that slow, deep breathing increases activity in the prefrontal cortex, helping individuals regulate emotions and respond calmly to stressful situations.

Reduction in PTSD Symptoms: Breathing techniques like coherent breathing are effective in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about types of breathing exercises in physiotherapy:

Q1. What is The Role of Physiotherapy in OPD?

Physiotherapist teaches the transfer activities to bedridden patients like spinal cord injury patients. They focus on muscle re-education and control and rehabilitation of gross and fine motor skills in conditions like spinal cord injury cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, and stroke.

Q2. What is The Role of a Physiotherapist in a Healthy Community?

Physiotherapists are the experts who aim to restore movement, function, and activities of daily living. As health experts, they not only play a crucial role in the management of lifestyle disorders but can also prevent most of them.

Q3. Who is The Father of Physiotherapy?

It was in the year 1813, that Per Henrik Ling, a Swedish poet, introduced the actual PT to the world. He revolutionized the area of PT by introducing exercises, known as Swedish exercises, and his work was popularly known as the Swedish movement.

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