Does anyone have physiotherapy

Are any of you getting Physiotherapy for your asthma, I have been given a number of good advise and exercises to assist with my breathing,but yesterday I was told to Tape up my mouth with a surgical bandage not gaffa tap, gorilla tape or similar, for 1 hour,and also to do silent through the nose [in and out] breathing so that you cant see the chest rising.I find that this is impossible as it is a natural thing for your chest to expand.

[Poobah]

I had some physio in order to help me with better breathing techniques. I think I know what you mean regarding the rising chest while breathing.

My physio explained that I was breathing using my upper body - shoulders, rather than breathing from the diaphragm. The corrective exercise involved placing my hand on my diaphragm and trying to make it work in line with chest rises without moving shoulders. (The aim to move the hand up and down by using the diaphragm).

Asthmatics tend to breath through the mouth so I understand the tape over mouth to get you to focus on nose breathing. Maybe try getting the diaphragm to move air in and out, keeping your shoulders down/still will help while nose breathing will help you achieve what the physio wants.

The chest will move but as long as the diaphragm is doing the work you know that your lower lungs are working too.

Hope you have a follow up appointment with the physio as they will check your progree and technique.

Hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to Poobah]

Thanks for the useful information

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have realized now that what she meant was on about was belly[Diaphragm] breathing which I had to do after I had had my Gall Bladder removed. As far as the taping up of my mouth they can forget it, it makes me dizzy and faint. I was a trained singer in my younger days and extremely fit. Thanks again for jogging my memory and the useful information

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

I’ve seen a few physios in my time.

The mouth taping thing is part of the buteyko method which some people have reported helped their breathing. Personally I refuse to do this as I have severe asthma and PND/sinus issues so blocking my mouth when my nose is blocked seems a bit like suicide to me 😅 (I was first told to tape my mouth shut whilst I had a chest and sinus infection, whilst in hospital 1-2 days post life-threatening attack, and to tape it at night... all night... not just for an hour a day. It was my first experience of hospital physio 🤦‍♀️). I’m naturally a nose breather unless my asthma is really glaring or i have a sinus infection so a bit pointless for me any.

The best way to get yourself back into abdominal breathing is to place one hand on your belly and one band on your chest. Then make sure it’s the belly hand moving more/first. On normal breathing there should be minimal upper chest movement. If you’re not happy taping your mouth then just focus on breathing in and out through your nose whilst doing this (or do it as separate exercises if you find you can’t manage both initially). Mouth breathing can cause a lot of issues in asthmatics if only because you have no natural ‘filter’ or warming method like you do in your nose...

The main thing is to get yourself back into normal/good breathing patterns and techniques. Asthmatics are very good at picking up breathing dysfunctions (esp if they’ve been unwell for a while) which is basically what the physio is there to try and correct.

I hope that helps

[Echoblue in reply to EmmaF91]

I’m with you on that Emma. I am a nose breather, mostly because I also have Sjogrens so my mouth is dry enough already!