Inspiratory breathing exercises improve respiratory muscle function and allow you to breathe easier. These exercises are a product of endurance and strength training that can help both healthy and recovering patients. These exercises are mainly used for patients with breathing problems such as asthma as they aid in building lung performance.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
According to the Cleveland Clinic Health System, diaphragmatic breathing encourages you to use your diaphragm correctly when breathing. To perform diaphragmatic breathing lie on a flat surface with your head supported and your knees bent. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your rib cage. Now breathe in through your nose, this will cause the hand on the rib cage to rise. Last tighten the stomach muscles and exhale, allowing the hand on the ribs to move down.
Pursed Lip Breathing
Cleveland Clinic cites that pursed lip breathing makes each breath more effective and improves breathing patterns. This exercise can be done when sitting or standing upright. You will want to loosen your neck and shoulders, and then inhale slowly with your nose for two seconds. Next pucker your lips and blow out through the lips for four seconds.
Progressive Resistive Exercises
Progressive resistive exercises build the diaphragm muscles by applying pressure to the diaphragm while it contracts fully. The exercises should be done while lying down. Different ways to create resistance are through therapist-applied pressure, the use of weights and positioning. These exercises are most effective when used long term.
Active Assistive Exercises
According to PoinTIS SCI Physical Therapy, active assistive exercises build diaphragm muscles by using a device such as pneumobelts and corsets. These devices are commonly used when the diaphragm is descended and needs to move to its correct position. Pneumobelts have inflatable bladders that are placed on the stomach. Once in place, the bladder inflates and pushes the diaphragm to its proper location. The device can be left on for up to eight hours, if no signs of tiredness appear. Then the bladder is slowly let out. When using a corset for active assistive exercises, place it tightly over the last two ribs, coating the iliac crest. Once the diaphragm improves, the corset can be removed.
Manual Assisted Cough
An assisted cough prevents respiratory infections, clears mucus from the lungs and builds cough strength. It is best to perform on an empty stomach, or when you feel mucus in your lungs. Take a deep breath, and then have someone push in and toward the rib as you cough. Any mucus that expels can be spit into a tissue.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Pursed Lip Breathing
- Cleveland Clinic Health System: Diaphragmatic Breathing.
- "Indian Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation"; A Study of Efficiency of Breathing Exercises to Improve Pulmonary Function in Tetraplegic and High Paraplegic Subjects; Dr. R. Suresh et al., April 2004
- Medical Dictionary: Inspiratory Resistance Muscle Training
- PoinTIS SCI Physical Therapy: Diaphragm Strengthening
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center: Patient Information
