Therapeutic Breathing Exercises:

Pursed-Lip and Diaphragmatic Breathing

Breathing Exercises help to improve patient's:

-Oxygenation -Ventilation

-Relaxation

Breathing exercises are helpful in managing shortness of breath, especially for patients with Chronic

Pulmonary Obstructive Disorder.

Pursed Lip Breathing

Pursed Lip Breathing

Pursed Lip breathing is very simple and helps the patient gain control of their breathing and prevent their airways from collapsing.

First, sit up and relax neck and shoulder muscles.

Second, breathe in deeply through the nose for 2 counts.

Once your chest is full, briefly pause and purse your lips, as though you were about to blow a candle out.

Then breathe out through your lips for 4 counts.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientimages/000267.htm

Its just that simple!!

It is very important to remember:

Exhale normally Let the air come out-You do not need to force it.

Repeat steps as often as necessary to slow breathing.

Breathing out will always be longer than breathing in

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic Breathing is slightly more complicated than Pursed Lip Breathing

But first, a little background on the Diaphragm...

The diaphragm is the muscle below the lungs that separates the chest from the abdomen.

http://home.messiah.edu/~jb1487/lungs_noSW.html

Diaphragmatic Breathing

1. Lie in a comfortable place on your back, with head supported and knees slightly bent.

2. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.

3. Breathe in slowly, so that your hand on your chest is as still as possible and the hand on your abdomen rises.

4. As you breathe out, tighten your stomach muscles to force air out through pursed lips.

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease_copd/hic_diaphragmatic_breathing.aspx

Always remember...

Make sure the hand on your chest stays as still as possible throughout the exercise!!!!!

This makes sure that you are breathing with your

diaphragm.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic Breathing helps with pain control and relaxation.

Sources:

Fundamentals of Nursing, Potter and Perry, pp. 854 National Institute of Health:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientimages/000267.htm

Cleveland Clinic: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease_copd/hic_diaphragmatic_breathing.aspx