Breathing and Headaches

How do you Breathe?

IN and OUT and IN and OUT! Nothing to it, right? It is not that simple... 

Your rib cage is an important section of your body. Not only does it protect vital organs, it is responsible to mobilize the rib joints and allow rotation on a functional movement level. Breathing expands the rib joints and the thoracic spinal joints are orientated for rotation. 

Tell me, are you breathing with full expansion of your rib cage? Or just the top half? Or more into the belly? Are you a mouth breather? Do you hold tension in your shoulders (upper trap muscles)? Do you have neck tension or headaches? 

Headaches are common and have many causes.  One cause can be dysfunctional breathing. When using our secondary breathing muscles (scalenes, SCM, neck muscles, traps) instead of our diaphragm and intercostals, increased muscle tension builds eventually creating an overload, and pain comes out as a headache. 

If this describes you, or someone you know, breathing exercises can be beneficial. There are many breathing techniques to try. A couple that I enjoy are BOX breathing and alternating nasal breathing. 

Inhaling and exhaling matters - Do it well :)

Dr. Jacquelyn Perron BHSc., DC