A Riddle for your Friday

I am lighter than a feather, yet the strongest man couldn’t hold me for much more than a minute. The answer: breath. Breathing is our most innate activity, and most of us will draw a breath (on average) 20,000 times a day until our last. For such an automatic bodily function, it is a constant source of wonder that people simply don’t do it correctly. Poor posture, stress and tension, lack of abdominal strength and pure lack of awareness are some of the top reasons why people don’t draw breath effectively, and it definitely creates a dearth in their well-being. 

At Holmes Chiropractic, we focus on teaching people how to coordinate the function of the diaphragm and the abdomen, and all of the accessory muscles in drawing a proper breath. Why, you ask? because nothing is more essential than oxygen for the human body. Every single cell needs to respire in order to stay alive and produce the energy needed for all the functions and systems of the body to work for you throughout the day. 

• Addressing abdominal weakness: weak abs means less lung capacity. 
• Teaching proper breathing technique: breathing through the nose, using the diaphragm for 70-80% of the breathing movement, and encouraging proper oxygen exchange. We can show you how in office. 
• Resolving spinal misalignment: nerves exiting between C3 and C5 power the phrenic nerve which is the main nerve input for the diaphragm. Pressure on any of these nerves can cause dysfunction in the diaphragm. 

Finally, negating the negative feedback cycle of poor posture and poor breathing: a hunched over posture will not allow your rib cage or thoracic cavity to open properly and capture the right amount of air. There are innumerable ways that breathing better will help you lead a better life; start breathing better today by calling our office in Houston to schedule an appointment. 

Dr. Randall Holmes, D.C.