We all know breathing is important, but did you know how you breathe is also very important? Unfortunately, most of the adult population is terrible at breathing.
You might think this sounds ridiculous, after all, you are literally breathing right now and it is keeping you alive.
The truth is, most of us are surviving off of shallow breaths (myself included). Most of us are overusing our neck muscles, or subsequently striving for a deep breath that is primarily coming from belly expansion.
What Breathing Should Look Like
If you're wondering how we should be breathing, look no further than your baby or toddler.
Breathing should be 360 degrees throughout the rib cage. All of your ribs should move with each breath, including alone your back! It might be subtle, but it should be there.
In a normal breathing pattern, we would not see neck or shoulder muscles moving at all. The belly may expand some, but it should be fairly symmetrical to back and rib expansion.
Your diaphragm, a large, flat muscle that spans the entire diameter of your thorax, contracts down on the inhale and up on the exhale. Without movement along the back of your ribcage, only some aspects of the diaphragm are able to fully contract.
And yes, this is true even during pregnancy!
Why More Than Belly Breathing Matters
Breathing is a big deal when it comes to core, pelvic floor, and shoulder strength. Breathing dictates how we load pressure in the body, which is pivotal for both pelvic floor tension and prolapse.
Managing pressure through the thorax is also essential for healing diastasis recti maintaining good spinal health.
Learning to breathe well may seem ridiculous, but it is an absolute game changer for your health.
Conclusion
Breathing dysfunction can have a wide range of consequences, including pelvic floor issues, neck and shoulder pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath, and abdominal wall weakness.
I start almost all of my clients out with an assessment of their breathing skills and habits.
Breathing well and correctly is critical for our health and quality of daily life.
If you think you're a shallow breather, make sure you book your appointment today!
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Want to learn more about your pelvic floor or find out if pelvic floor physical therapy is for you? Make sure you check out our blog The Ultimate Guide to Know If Pelvic Floor PT is For You.
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