Do you want to breath deeper and easier in Lexington? Have you ever noticed that your body begins to breath faster and more shallow when faced with insurmountable amount of stress? Anxiety has a number of effects on our physiology with abnormal breathing being one of the most common. This process can create vicious cycle of stress and anxiety, which leads to tight muscles, finally giving way to the difficult breathing that many of us have experienced. While some stressors may be impossible to escape, massage therapy provides a tool to help you relax and better adapt to these types of situations.
While massage can be crucial in promoting deeper and more relaxed breathing, it has also been shown to foster improvements in people suffering from emphysema, bronchitis, allergies, and a wide range of sinus issues. One thing that all of these conditions have in common is a problem with respiration. As breathing is altered, so are the oxygen levels throughout the body which leads to a variety of issues that commonly includes; fatigue, headaches, and nausea.
It is easy to take for granted the complexity of breathing since many of us simply think that it occurs naturally and automatically. While breathing is largely involuntary, it only occurs when the system is functioning properly. Muscles throughout the front of our chest as well as on our back play a large role in the breathing process. They relax and contract throughout the respiratory cycle allowing us to inhale and exhale respectively. When these muscles become tight due to stress and a variety of other causes, the respiratory cycle is shortened, resulting in quick, shallow, and more difficult breathing.
How Can Massage Therapy Help?
Research has shown that massage therapy can be one of the most effective tools for improving breathing and other respiratory problems. Physical massage of the muscles involved in the breathing process can break up adhesions and reduce built up tension allowing the body to shift from a state of stress to relaxation. Simultaneously, the lungs are able to expand to their normal volume, breaking the cycle and allowing normal respiration to return.
In addition to relaxing the muscles surrounding the lungs, our massage therapists at Eagle Creek Massage are skilled in a technique known as tapotement. While there are many varieties of tapotement, this technique primarily focuses on causing important changes throughout the lungs themselves. To reach deep past the muscles on the surface of your rib cage, massage therapists will produce a rhythmical tapping sensation that causes vibrations throughout the lung tissue. These vibrations are necessary to dislodge accumulated mucus, fluids, and debris that is often associated with improper breathing.
While the muscles described above play an important role in the breathing process, posture has been shown to be just as big of a contributor. With the high levels of stress and prolonged sitting that many of us endure, muscles tighten and cause postural abnormalities. Typically, people will slouch in their chairs, roll their shoulders forward, and droop their heads which all act as a compressive force on the lungs. The more energy that is spent on breathing, the higher the levels of stress and anxiety sore. Thankfully, massage therapy has been shown to be instrumental in the relaxation of the damaged muscles, postural restoration, and as a result improved breathing.
Receiving regular therapeutic massages not only reduces stress and anxiety while improving breathing, but also leads to an overall higher quality of life in general. Following even a single hour massage, people have reported decreased levels of depression, improved concentration, and a higher quality of sleep. While the list of benefits continues, it is important for you to schedule a consultation to see how massage therapy can benefit your life. As with most treatments, the sooner the problem is addressed, the less likely it will become a long lasting, painful, and debilitating condition.
Let our massage therapist at Eagle Creek Massage in Lexington help you breath deeper and easier.
By Kristy Gallentine
