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Standard Treatment of Lymphedema--Breathing

Breathing, a
Component of Self-Care: The Overlooked Exercise
by Ellen Gordon Poage
Just as the heart is the pump for the circulatory system, the
diaphragm is the pump for the lymphatic system. As a therapist, I
was originally taught to use abdominal breathing, or what is known
as abdominal work, for lower extremity patients. I was told it
wasn't necessary for upper extremity patients. Yet with experience
and time I have come to realize that unless I actively teach my
patients deep breathing, all of them, even those who don't have
lymphedema but are frightened that they might develop lymphedema, I
wasn't doing my part as a therapist. So now all my patients get more
instruction in deep breathing than any other component of self care.
The major problem with poor breathing is poor oxygenation. If there
is poor oxygenation there is no energy. Poor oxygenation causes
listlessness and depresses mood. Furthermore poorly oxygenated
systems are stressed. The body doesn't care where the stress comes
from, but it always responds in the same way, by tightening muscles,
including the diaphragm. The end result is lower oxygen levels, poor
circulation, increased muscle tension and decreased metabolic
activity at the cellular level - no wonder it's difficult to lose
weight!
The neat thing is this stress response can be changed both mentally
and physically. Change the mind and the body responds, i.e., change
your attitude about worries or your responses to events in your life
and you reduce your stress. Or, change your body - practice deep
breathing, exercise and stretching and reduce your stress.
The lymphatic system needs a relaxed body to operate properly. Just
like relaxation helps digestion, it also helps the lymphatic system.
Deep slow abdominal breathing helps you to take in large amounts of
oxygen. From the lungs the oxygen moves into your blood stream where
it binds to red blood cells and is transported to all the cells and
tissue in your body.
Oxygen is essential at the cellular level in the production of
energy. Exhalation reverses this order as the waste product of
oxygen metabolism, carbon dioxide, is exhaled from your lungs. Don't
wait another minute! The brain uses 20 percent of the oxygen in your
body. As your body heals it requires all the oxygenation possible.
In addition to oxygenation, the beauty of deep breath work is its
effect on the lymphatic system. As the body goes from inhale to
exhale there is a change in intra-abdominal pressure. This change
creates a vacuum which helps push sluggish lymph fluid up the
Thoracic Duct on its return to the Venous Angle where it will
connect with the venous system.
Lets begin with an analysis of your breathing: while standing, with
one hand on your belly and the other on your lungs, take a breath,
inhale and exhale. Did you suck in your gut, open up your chest and
bring your shoulders up to your ears? When you exhaled, did the
belly come out and the chest deflate? Most people breathe like this.
This is what is meant by the term chest breathing. This type of
breathing is known as paradoxical breathing, but it is more aptly
referred to as breathing backwards. Proper abdominal breathing
corrects this.
To do abdominal breathing begin by lying down. After you've learned
the technique you can do it in any position, but it helps to be
supine and comfortable. Place a pillow under your knees. Now put a
book on your abdomen right below the rib cage. Inhale slowly and
deeply through the nose and allow the belly to fill up. The book on
your abdomen should move. The abdomen needs to be relaxed. Don't
force the abdomen to move, soften it.
Visualize a glass filling up from the bottom. Visualize a balloon
inflating. Now let the air fall, press the air out with your
abdominal muscles. The book should go down. Begin again and breathe
correctly ten times. You will feel wonderful! Practice this
breathing technique at every opportunity. The exercise may be
difficult at first, but this is merely an indication you have been
chest breathing - for a long time!
About the Author: Ellen Gordon Poage
Ellen is a nurse massage therapist with an extensive health
background. She is a registered nurse with a Bachelor's of Science
degree in Nursing and a Master's degree in Public Health in Health
Education.
Ellen is a certified in Manual Lymph Drainage/Complete Decongestive
Therapy. She completed the 135 hour training course with Joachim
Zuther, Director of the Academy of Lymphatic Studies in Miami, FL in
May 1995.
Presently, Ellen owns her own practice in both CDT and Massage. She
is a member of the NLN and ONS and is active in her community in
developing Lymphedema services and education the community about
this disease and its treatment. Ellen runs a bimonthly Lymphedema
support group in Ft. Myers, LEE County Florida and is a member of
the
Lymphedema Resources, Inc.
Board of Directors.
I had a
conversation with a masseuse yesterday. He mentioned how
most of his clients have compromised lymphatic movement, and
the first thing he teaches them is therapeutic breathing. So
I asked him about breathing, specifically We know about
breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth,
getting a good tummy breath, right? What he added was the
importance of a full abdominal tightening/crunch which
includes the butt and a kegel squeeze at the end of the
exhale. Then the inhale is started by abdominal relaxation,
then filling the lungs. I found it to be helpful. -
kcshreve
Page Last Modified
09/29/2015
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