Dysfunctional breathing
Rosalba Courtney | DO PhD
Abstract
Up to 10 % of the general population experiences dysfunctional breathing , which can disrupt the maintenance of homeostasis within the body . Breathing is a key movement performed by the musculoskeletal system . This article defines and categorises dysfunctional breathing and introduces a number of different assessment tools . It also highlights how resolving dysfunctional breathing can help in the successful treatment of a range of other conditions .
This article was originally published in OsteoLife Autumn 2022 . It is reprinted here with kind permission of Osteopathy Australia and the author .
In recent years , there has been a growing public awareness and interest in the use of breathing as a self-help and therapeutic modality . Research into the effectiveness of breathing training and therapy for a wide range of conditions has also been slowly increasing . As a result , many other allied health professions , including physiotherapists , speech and language pathologists , psychologists , exercise physiologists and dental health professionals , are including breathing assessment and treatment in their professional disciplines . This multidisciplinary interest in breathing has brought diverse perspectives to the field and helped to create depth , scope and sophistication in the understanding of how breathing affects multiple body systems and conditions .
A number of recent publications advancing breathing as a structured and disciplined field of clinical practice have focused on defining terms and categorising types of dysfunctional breathing .( 1-3 ) An understanding of these terms and definitions is helpful for any clinician wanting to understand and assess breathing disorders in a precise manner .
What is Dysfunctional Breathing ?
Dysfunctional breathing ( DB ) is a multidimensional disorder with biomechanical , biochemical and psychophysiological dimensions .( 4 ) Each of these dimensions of breathing can be a driver of dysfunction that perpetuates symptoms and disrupts the body ’ s ability to restore homeostasis ( see Figure 1 ).
76 | vol28 | no2 | JATMS