TEACHING DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING TO CHILDREN

The process of breathing has been linked to consciousness, health, and spirit. Newborns naturally breathe using diaphragmatic breathing. However, by the age of 10, most children use a shallow thoracic breathing pattern, except when in a supine position. Adult literature indicates that patients taught diaphragmatic breathing experience significant decreases in numerous physical and psychophysiological symptoms. There is a paucity of professional or lay literature that addresses the topic of breath training in children. This article describes the use of breath training as a component of biofeedback training and the possible uses of breath training for prevention and intervention of physical and psychophysiological disorders in children. Directions for future research are proposed. "Of all the techniques I've learned, I use that 'breathing stuff' the most. " -Josh, age 12 There is a paucity of professional or lay literature that specifically addresses the topic of breath training in children. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of breath training for children. Practical tips for teaching breathing are provided. This article will also explore possible uses of breath training for prevention and intervention of physical and psychophysiological disorders in children primarily through extrapolation from the adult literature. We breathe our first breath at birth and our last at death. The process of breathing has been linked to consciousness, health, and spirit. Common phrases such as I couldn’t catch my breath, I need a breath of fresh air, I waited with bated breath, It was a breath taking view, and Give me some breathing room," use the concept of breath to describe the mind/body connection. One’s breathing pattern varies depending upon their level of physical fitness, current activity, and awareness of their breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing can enhance relaxation and physical stamina. Dysfunctional breathing patterns such as thoracic breathing, gasping, and breath holding and hyperventilation, may contribute to discomfort from problems such as headaches, stomachaches, sleep disturbance, anxiety, asthma, and hyperventilation (Schwartz, 1995, Fried, 1990). Diaphragmatic versus Thoracic breathing Diaphragmatic breathing is a breathing pattern that differs significantly from the typical breathing pattern of most adults. The typical adult breathing pattern, which may excelerate slightly just because of being measured, involves shallow thoracic movements with a respiration rate of 15-22 respirations per minute. There is also an absence of sinus arrhythmia. In contrast, diaphragmatic breathing requires slow, rhythmic inhalations and exhalations with emphasis on the diaphragm muscle moving downward on inhalation and upward on exhalation (Roland, 1987, Hendricks, 1995, Farhi, 1990). The respiration rate is 5 to 8 respirations per minute and is associated with a return of a normal respiratory sinus arrhythmia. As people slow their respiration rate, the tidal volume tends to go up and the minute volume tends to go down. The tidal volume in diaphragmatic breathing ranges from 750 to 2000 ml of air per inhalation. The exhalation phase is longer than the inhalation phase. Additionally, evidence of less stress is an increased exhalation pause time (Peper, 1992). While breathing diaphragmatically, people are encouraged to relax and give their breathing “passive attention. ” Erik Peper describes diaphragmatic breathing as “effortless breathing. ” Thoracic or chest breathing, shallow breathing, sighing and hyperventilation are common dysfunctional breathing patterns. Thoracic breathing is a tendency to breathe in the upper chest by using the accessory breathing muscles such as the pectoralis, scalenes, and trapezius muscles. The diaphragm is pulled up on inhalation and down on exhalation. Thoracic breathing can cause dyspnea, fatigue, irritation, headaches, increased muscle tension in the upper chest as well a increased feelings of anxiety and panic (Peper, 1992). In the extreme case, breathing is paradoxical, as a person inhales the chest lifts up and the stomach tightens. With exhalation the chest collapses and the stomach looses all tone and goes out. An example of this would be a large gasp taken when someone is startled or afraid. Thoracic breathing can result in lower CO2 levels that leads to hyperventilation. Hyperventilation is defined as “rapid cycles of inhaling and exhaling (tachypnea) and/or breathing voluminous amounts of air in each breath (hyperpnea) (Schwartz, 1995, Fried, 1990). This is breathing beyond what the body needs to meet its immediate demands for oxygen and carbon dioxide. Acute hyperventilation commonly occurs with frightening or stressful events and resolves quickly. Chronic hyperventilation causes significant physical symptoms in every system of the body including dizziness, poor concentration, decreased peripheral temperature, muscle tension and cramps, irregular and rapid heart rate and gastrointestinal upset. A more common pattern of dysfunctional breathing is observed when a patient exhales incompletely with every breath (Peper, 1993). This leads to hyperventilation followed by a big sigh. This can easily be assessed with the following exercise: CLINICAL TIP: To see if breathing affects symptoms: For one minute, ask your patient sit quietly, inhale and then exhale only 50% of their breath before inhaling again. Many people quickly report discomfort, including pounding in their chest, dizziness or increased feelings of anxiety. When you can evoke a symptom, the power of controlling breathing is reinforced. Another dysfunctional breathing pattern is breath holding. When people are very vigilant or fearful, they typically hold their breath. This triggers the alarm reaction or stress response. With training and practice, people can learn to focus on their exhalations and continue diaphragmatic breathing while being vigilant. For example, imagine that you are threading a thin thread into a small needle hole. Imagine holding the needle in front of you. As you push the thread through the small eye of the needle, are you holding your breath? Diaphragmatic breathing is a core component of most relaxation and biofeedback programs. Jon Kabat-Zinn, MD, Director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center has reported that “the breathing” was identified as “the single most important thing” his graduates learned from the stress reduction program (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). In a survey of children who participated in a biofeedback program for a variety of psychophysiologic disorders, 80% identified “that breathing stuff” as the component of the training that they used most and retained longest (Kajander, 1997). Relaxation/diaphragmatic breathing is taught by medical providers and many other health professionals to assist people in reducing their physiologic tension and arousal and to treat the symptoms of many physical and psychological disorders. Diaphragmatic breathing is thought to have a positive effect on every system of the body. It calms the nervous system, slows the heart rate, and lowers blood pressure. It slows brain wave rates thus “quieting the mind. ” It stimulates the immune system, decreases peripheral sweating and increases peripheral warming. (Schwartz, 1995, Hendricks, 1995). Clinicians who teach breathing should have considerable personal experience (Tibbets and Peper, 1993). There are many theories regarding the physiologic mechanism of diaphragmatic breathing on pain and anxiety. Breathing in through the nose stimulates the vagus nerve endings resulting in lowering of the sympathetic response and inhibiting the fight/flight response. Additionally, the air is warmed, filtered and moisturized as it travels through the nose resulting in less irritation and turbulence in the airway. Hyperventilation is diminished because the nasal passages are small which inhibits overbreathing. Slow breathing results in mild increases in CO2 which causes slowing of the heart rate, dilation of peripheral vessels, stimulation of gastric secretions, depressed cortical activity and mild somnolence, all characteristics associated with relaxation. Focusing attention on slow diaphragmatic breathing results in cognitive diversion which may diminish attention to negative thoughts and increase a sense of personal control (Schwartz). Shaffer has observed that if one focuses his/her attention on their abdomen or feet while breathing, the breath is more likely to be diaphragmatic than if the focus is on the chest. Focusing on the chest results in quicker, more shallow breathing (Shaffer, et al, 1993). This has significant implications for persons with asthma or panic. CLINICAL TIP: If a person is having difficulty breathing diaphragmatically (asthma, panic, breath holding etc.), encourage them to focus on their exhalation and to imagine exhaling their air all the way down their legs to their feet. It also helps for the clinician to stroke the client’s arms or legs while they are exhaling. Additionally, it is important to recognize that breathing patterns are contagious and can be modeled (Shafffer, 1994). This is particularly true for children who learn a great deal by imitation. If a clinician exhales in phase with their client, the client will begin to exhale longer and may shift to a more diaphragmatic pattern. If the client places his/her hands on the clinician's sides or abdomen, abdominal breathing can be easily felt. Pacing of the breath can also be demonstrated. In order for this to occur in a healthy way, the clinician must be well trained in breathing and be flexible to the demands of their client. CLINICAL TIP: Teach diaphragmatic breathing with verbal instruction, role modeling, and pacing. Adult Literature on Diaphragmatic Breathing Benefits Diaphragmatic breathing has been identified as helpful in the treatment of numerous significant health problems in adults. Peper and