Breathing Exercises
Keeping your lungs healthy and clean is imperative to everyone but especially those with paralysis. Any level or side of your body that is affected by paralysis poses an increased risk for the development of lung diseases, bacteria, and viral growth. This is because not being able to fully fill your lungs with fresh air along with the ability to adequately exhale prevents the movement of air within your lungs.
Lung exercises are designed for tranquility, strengthening your body, or both. Breathing in deeply takes clean air into the base of the lungs where you may not be inhaling sufficiently after paralysis. Breathing in or expanding the lungs takes multiple muscle groups working together. Breathing out is a natural state of rest for the lungs. When exhaling, the muscles relax causing the lungs to deflate.
As with any form of physical exercise, check with your healthcare professional to see if it is right for you as well as what type of exercises would best benefit your body preventing complications. Individuals with diagnoses such as heart conditions, asthma, COPD, and others may not be able to perform some breathing exercises. Individuals who utilize mechanical ventilation will not be able to do most of these exercises but can use the ‘sigh’ button to help them take a deep breath when used as prescribed.
Breathing exercises should be started slowly as with any exercise plan. You are strengthening your individual body, not preparing for the breathing ‘Olympics’. Work up gradually. Do not ever perform your lung exercises to the point where you become lightheaded. This is not allowing enough oxygen to reach your brain. If you become lightheaded or dizzy, stop, and rest until you return to normal. Becoming dizzy or lightheaded is not an indication that you have reached your maximum, it is an indication that you have gone way too far.
Some equipment can be purchased for lung exercise. The incentive spirometer is a great device that you received in the hospital for breathing exercises. A video about the incentive spirometer is here. More advanced lung exercisers may want to try a Powerlung device. Both of these devices have a cost.
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Your breath has moisture in it. Moisture breeds bacteria in a device. Therefore, equipment should be cleaned either by manufacturer’s instructions or if no instructions are provided, use warm water and soap as a cleaner. Air dry.
Currently, the straw method is taking on public interest as a breathing exercise because it is simple to do and not very expensive. Breathing in through a straw begins with a large diameter straw as one would get with a smoothie. This mimics the mechanics of an incentive spirometer. As time goes by, you can reduce the diameter of your straw over time until you work your way down to a coffee swizzle stick. If you do not reach swizzle stick size because of your paralysis restrictions, do not worry, a narrow straw is still great. Remember, this is not a contest, this is doing what is best for your body.
There are lung exercises that can be used that have no financial expense. Deep breathing and coughing are free, simple, and can be done at any time throughout the day. People often overlook this technique because it is so simple. There are several breathing techniques that can be used without equipment that will strengthen different parts of your body to enhance breathing. Which of these exercises will be right for you can be prescribed by your health professional for your best treatment. Breathing exercises can be found here:
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/breathing-exercises
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/breathing-exercises
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9443-pursed-lip-breathing
Pediatric Consideration: There are breathing exercises that are appropriate for the pediatric population. These may be combined with play to enhance willingness and performance. Here are some simple examples that are also fun.