Medical expert of the article
New publications
Therapeutic respiratory gymnastics for chronic obstructive and acute bronchitis in adults and children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
In the inflammatory process of the bronchial mucosa, doctors recommend that their patients do breathing exercises. They activate the drainage processes in the bronchial tree, contribute to the faster removal of clusters of viscous secretion, cough elimination and normalization of respiration. Thanks to respiratory gymnastics, atrophic changes in bronchial mucosa slow down, normalization and restoration of its structure take place, and ventilation of the lungs improves.
In order to do respiratory gymnastics does not need a gym and any equipment, even to specifically allocate time is not necessary. Exercises to normalize breathing can be done at any time - for a walk, while relaxing, lying in bed before going to bed or waking up in the morning.
Indications for the procedure
Select exercises for training the respiratory system preferably with the attending physician. It is recommended to begin the training under the guidance of a physiotherapist, and when the exercises and techniques for their implementation are worked out, you can continue the training yourself.
Chronic obstructive bronchitis is the most common disease of the respiratory system. Obstruction (partial or complete obstruction of the bronchi) can aggravate and acute bronchitis. Thus there is an expiratory dyspnea, the inhalation and exhalation are not harmonized, which causes overstrain and fatigue of the respiratory muscles. Breathing exercises with obstructive bronchitis include exercises that help clear bronchi from accumulated mucus, expand their lumen and restore the mucous membrane. Persistence of the patient and regular performance of breathing exercises contribute to improve the patency of the air flow and prevent the development of a number of possible complications (pneumonia, pleurisy, emphysema).
Respiratory gymnastics for chronic bronchitis is prescribed in a complex of therapeutic measures to strengthen the respiratory muscles; restoration of drainage functions of the bronchial tree and improvement of ventilation; normalization of the circulatory volume in the inflow system to the affected ventricle; eliminate (reduce) dyspnea and improve the overall condition of the patient.
Often, bronchitis is complicated by pneumonia. In this case, subject to a satisfactory general condition of the patient and subfebrile temperature values, breathing exercises can be recommended from the first days of treatment. Respiratory gymnastics with bronchitis and pneumonia promote excitation of inspiratory (regulating inhalation) and expiratory (regulating exhalation) of the respiratory center, improves coordination of inspiration-exhalation, gas exchange and ventilation. The performance of breathing exercises creates an optimal background for medical therapy, it has a beneficial effect on the overall tone of the patient's body and improves its psychological state, which in turn contributes to the rapid recovery and involution of atrophic and degenerative changes in the bronchi and parenchyma of the lungs.
Respiratory gymnastics for acute bronchitis is prescribed on the second or third day of antibiotic therapy, when the patient's condition stabilizes and the temperature falls. During the first week of treatment, static breathing exercises are performed (if the patient is recommended bed rest), then go to the dynamic in conjunction with the massage and health-improving exercises of physical therapy. Respiratory exercises are prescribed to reduce the inflammatory process, normalize the flow of blood and lymph in the vessels and capillaries of the respiratory system; restoration of normal drainage of air flow (conduct, warming, moisturizing and purifying); increase immunity, prevent chronic diseases and complications.
The respiratory gymnastics is actual at an allergic bronchitis. In the case of a chronic form of the disease, its role is preventive - preventing complications, strengthening the body's defenses. Also, due to breathing exercises, the back and chest muscles are strengthened, there is a more active tissue respiration, which prevents the appearance of dyspnoea. Allergy sufferers are recommended to master the method of K.P. Buteyko, which allows to stop attacks of an allergic cough without the use of medicines and to transfer the disease to the phase of long-term remission, practically - to recover.
Breathing exercises with tracheitis and bronchitis can translate dry (barking) cough, characteristic for diseases of the upper respiratory tract in the category of "wet", facilitating the excretion of sputum. At the same time, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is sanitized and the damping of the inflammatory process is significantly faster.
There are many techniques for performing breathing correction exercises, almost all of them can be performed with bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. They are ineffective only in the case of organic disorders, and functional pathologies are subject to successful correction by natural means, along with the normal state of the organism as a whole.
Indications for carrying out respiratory gymnastics - bronchitis of all forms and various genesis, complicated by pneumonia, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, upper respiratory tract diseases. Usually breathing exercises are not contraindicated to pregnant women and hypertensives, they can be performed by people who have had a heart attack and stroke. They allow you to get rid of neuroses, depression, chronic fatigue, headaches and other diseases. However, these methods also have a number of contraindications, mostly temporary, but the medical consultation must precede the beginning of the classes.
Do breathing exercises with bronchitis can be with children from three to four years of age, the upper limiting limit does not exist.
[1]
Technique of the respiratory gymnastics with bronchitis
Respiratory gymnastics for chronic bronchitis, proposed by different authors, is somewhat different in technique.
It is necessary to carefully study any proposed set of exercises, to practice breathing techniques when performing it almost to automaticity and preferably with an instructor.
For example, when performing respiratory exercises according to Strelnikova recommendation the following:
- the author recommends working out, first of all the inspiration - it should be active, short-lived, comparable with cotton in hands; when performing it, one does not need to inhale a lot of air, "swell", it must be natural;
- the breath is drawn in such a way that the nostrils are closed, the shoulders should be lowered;
- one breath in the treatment of bronchitis is done through the nose, the next - through the mouth and then in turn (when breathed by the mouth - the nose does not participate and vice versa);
- exhalation occurs naturally and passively every time after inhalation, it is desirable to exhale with a mouth silently, without delaying, but also not stimulating it;
- movement in this set of exercises is done on inspiration.
If there are no other recommendations, you can take this technique as a basis for performing different complexes of respiratory gymnastics.
Exercises of respiratory gymnastics with bronchitis can relieve coughing attacks without the use of medications. This is done as follows: during an attack, you need to take a deep breath and then exhale, and then hold your breath for a while. This exercise can be repeated four or five times in a row, it also helps in attacks of an allergic cough.
If the bronchi are obstructed due to their constriction and congestion (obstruction), one can do such a simple exercise as exhalation with resistance. For this, it is necessary to pour water into a bowl, pan or any other convenient container, take a cocktail tube and dip it into the water. Inhale deeper, exhale into the water through the tube. This exercise can be performed several times a day, the duration of one lesson is about a quarter of an hour. It is with pleasure and interest that children do.
Waking up in the morning without getting up from bed, with obstructive bronchitis, you can do an exercise on diaphragmatic breathing, which improves the escape of accumulated sputum for the night. Remove the pillows and blankets, lie on your back - take a deep breath and exhale sharply, while maximally pulling the stomach, working the muscles of the abdominal press. Then again, deeply inhale the belly, feeling how it protrudes, then, pulling up the stomach, several times to cough.
Respiratory gymnastics in bronchitis for adult patients can include simple exercises that train primarily inhale, exhalation should be easy and involuntary:
- inhale through the slightly compressed nostrils of the nose, exhaling through the mouth;
- inhale through the left nostril, holding the right finger, exhale through the right, holding the left, alternating each time the sides of inspiration and exhalation;
- to inhale with his lips extended out into the tube, breathing out his nose;
- to inhale through the corners of the mouth, tightly compressed lips in the center;
- inhale through the right corner of the mouth, then through the left.
You can train breathing in and out, blowing balloons or inflatable toys.
Respiratory gymnastics Strelnikova with bronchitis is considered one of the most effective. In this complex, a forced diaphragmatic inspiration is used, in which air is filled with lower lobar sections of the lungs, gas exchange is enhanced in the airways of the lungs and, consequently, the blood is saturated with oxygen. The air stream inhales the musculature of the entire respiratory system, and with an involuntary exhalation, the voice ligaments massage.
Exercises of this complex are designed in such a way that practically all groups of muscles of the body are involved in the work, as a result, tissue oxygenation is activated, mobility and efficiency of organs and systems are increased, disturbed functions are restored, in particular, drainage, disturbed in bronchitis. There is an involution of adhesive and degenerative processes, curvature of the sternum and spine.
The development of a fast, active nasal inspiration, basic for these exercises, restores normal breathing with the nose in a fairly short time, and after three months of training using the Strelnikova method, a new dynamic breathing stereotype is developed and becomes familiar.
The use of exercises in this technique for the treatment of bronchitis eliminates bronchial obstruction, relieves sputum and pathogenic microflora, repairs the bronchial mucosa damaged by the atrophic process, and increases its protective properties.
Patients with a diagnosis of bronchitis should perform a full set of exercises twice a day for at least two or three weeks. The coughing attack that begins during the session is stopped as follows: the head should be bent without straining the neck musculature, the hands should be placed on the abdomen from above and below the navel, pushing them up and down each time with the urge to cough, and you need to cough at your feet.
At first, cycles of four, eight or 16 breaths are performed, intervals between rest periods are made for three to four seconds. The contract executes as many breaths-movements, as corresponds to the capabilities of the patient, does not cause fatigue and improves well-being. In case of shortness of breath, dizziness, the patient needs to take a short break for rest and return to the interrupted session. Control the correctness of the performance of the elements of respiratory gymnastics should the instructor-methodologist, at least at the initial stages of training.
Patients with poor health should first do lying exercises, necessarily carrying out the complex from beginning to end, but reducing the number of repetitions and, thus, the time of its execution.
The pace of movements is reminiscent of a military march, an account of a multiple of eight and is only made in the mind. For most exercises, any initial position is suitable, which allows to take into account the patient's condition and its possibilities. Depending on this, the rate of execution of each respiratory etude, indicated below, is subject to adjustment.
Start training with bronchitis is recommended with a warm-up:
- The patient takes any convenient starting position. It should straighten, hands placed along the body and bent at the elbow joints, should remain all the time in one position. The back of the hands is turned towards the body. Quickly and noisily sucking in the air, simultaneously clenching the fists, releasing them - arbitrarily exhale.
Drawing in air four times, it is recommended to take a break for a few seconds and continue. More hardy patients extend the exercise cycle to eight, 16 or 32 repetitions. The recommended number of cycles is 24 × 4 repetitions, 12 × 8 repetitions, 3 × 32 repetitions.
- The position is similar - straighten up, press the fingers compressed into the fists to the stomach at the waist level. Quickly and noisily sucking in the air, at the same time, push away the compressed fingers from oneself, unclenching and spreading the fingers. The shoulders of the shoulders should be toned, the arms straightened. With involuntary exhalation, the fingers are again clamped into the fists and go to the waist (no need to lift the arms above the hands).
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions, 6 × 16 repetitions, 3 × 32 repetitions.
- Standing upright, straighten up. The arms are placed along the body, bent at the elbows at a right angle, the legs are slightly apart (about the length of the foot) and stand on their full feet in the process of execution, not looking up from the floor. Etude is something like the behavior of cats, hunting for birds.
Slightly sit down, quickly and noisily sucking in the air, simultaneously turn to the right, while making a grabbing movement of his hands. Arbitrarily exhale, straightened legs, and mirror all the actions - turning to the left side.
Turning, you do not need to take your hands away from the body, keep your back straight (only the upper part of the body turns to the waist).
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- Start position - standing at full height or sitting on a chair: straighten up, arms hang down freely, legs are located from each other at a distance equal to, approximately, the length of the foot, torso slightly tilt forward. Sharply and noisily sucking in the air, at the same time - tilt the body down, as if inflating the wheel of the car, optionally exhaling - to rise. The neck muscles should be relaxed.
Patients with craniocerebral and vertebral trauma, radiculitis, arterial, cerebral or ocular hypertension, osteochondrosis, urolithiasis, severe nearsightedness are recommended to incline without fanaticism to the best of their abilities and abilities.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- This sketch is considered the most effective in the complex. However, not all patients are advised from the first training to proceed with its implementation. When all the other breathing sketches have been worked out, then they begin to learn this exercise (about a week after the beginning of the exercises). Especially caution should be exercised for people with myocardial ischemia, congenital anomalies in the development of the heart muscle, and having a history of myocardial infarction.
From any starting position: straighten up, place the arms bent at the elbow joints at the level of the shoulder girdle with tassels to each other (the letter T). Quickly and noisily draw in the air, at the same time sending hands parallel to each other and embracing themselves by the shoulders. In this position, one hand will be higher than the other, it does not matter which one is on top. In this task, the position of the hands should not be changed. The muscles of the arms are relaxed, in the embrace of the arms form a triangle. During a passive exhalation, they are not diluted widely in the sides, and when they diverge, a square is obtained.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- This component is a combination of the two previous ones: straighten up, the arms hang freely down, the legs are located at a distance equal to, approximately, the length of the foot. Quickly and noisily sucking in the air, at the same time a little bend forward, hands reaching for the knees, but below their level not to lower. Spontaneously breathe out, and immediately, after bending slightly in the waist, sucking in the air with a short inhalation, simultaneously wrapping his arms around his shoulders. Repeat without stopping seven more times.
In the case of injuries or osteochondrosis of the spine, displacement of the discs between the vertebrae, performing this task, reduce the amplitude of movement in both directions by slight inclinations.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- Straighten, arms hang freely down, legs are located from each other at a distance equal to, approximately, the length of the foot. Quickly and noisily sucking in the air, at the same time, turn his head to the right shoulder, exhale and again, sharply and noisily sucking in the air, at the same time turn his head to the left shoulder. Movement from side to side is carried out without stopping, the musculature of the neck is relaxed.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- From the same position, quickly and noisily sucking in the air, at the same time, we tilt our head to the right shoulder, breathing out an exhalation, then drawing the air in the same way to the left. At the same time, the shoulders are lowered and immovable. The head moves smoothly. With extreme caution, patients after suffering craniocerebral injuries, suffering from hypertension of various genesis, chronic headaches, cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis, epileptics.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- It is made from the same starting position: quickly and noisily sucking in the air, one at a time you need to look at your feet, breathe out your mouth softly, then, in the same way drawing in the air, at the same time raise your head to the ceiling. The movements are smooth, non-stop, the muscles of the neck are relaxed. Precautions are similar to the previous exercise.
If, during the seventh, eighth and ninth exercises, dizziness occurs, they are performed sitting, but the exercises do not stop. Over time, the discomfort will pass.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- Starting position is standing, to step forward with the right foot. Body weight is evenly distributed on both legs. To transfer it to the right leg, left, slightly bent, keep the body in a position of balance. Quickly and noisily sucking in the air, one moment to sit down slightly on the right foot, arbitrarily breathe out the mouth and at the same time to transfer the weight of the body back to the left leg, which we straighten. The right one at the moment is slightly bent and touches the floor to maintain balance. Briefly draw in the air and slightly squat on the left leg. Squats should be sprung and shallow. Without stopping, 32 inspiratory movements are performed, after which the position of the legs is changed.
Recommended number of cycles: 6 × 32 repetitions.
- Standing at full height, straighten up, arms hang freely down, legs are located from each other at a distance equal to, approximately, the length of the foot. To step with the left foot with a high hip lift (to the level of the abdomen), quickly and noisily sucking in the air, momentarily squatting a little on the right foot. Starting position and natural exhalation. Immediately step with the right foot as high, simultaneously, sharply drawing in the air with your nose, crouching on the left. Starting position and natural exhalation. The body keep all the time straight.
Each step can be accompanied by free hand swings from the elbow to the waist at its level.
Patients after injuries of the lower extremities, myocardial infarction, with urolithiasis and congenital anomalies of cardiac muscle development, women in the III trimester of pregnancy should not be taken out of the thigh when lifting to the level of the abdomen, it is enough simply to lift it. In the presence of pathological processes (varicose veins, thrombophlebitis) or traumatic injuries of the lower limbs, the starting position is sitting or lying on the back.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- From the same position: quickly and noisily drawing in air, at the same time with a step backwards with overlapping - try to touch the heel of the right leg to the buttock on the same side, at the same time, a little squat on the left leg. Arbitrarily exhaling, return to the starting position and immediately make a repetition, stepping the same way as the left foot.
Additionally, you can work with your hands, making counter-flops with your hands at the waist level.
Patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities (thrombi) need a doctor's consultation not the subject of the possibility of performing this task.
Recommended number of cycles: 12 × 8 repetitions.
- The final stage for bronchitis should be exercises # 4 and # 5 with alternating air intake by nose and mouth (16 nasal breaths and without interruption - as much through the mouth). Then there is a three-five-second break for rest.
Recommended number of cycles: 3 × 32 repetitions.
This set of exercises can be used as a therapeutic breathing gymnastics for bronchitis for children over the age of three to four years (when they will be able to repeat all the movements correctly for an adult).
It should be noted that in beginners treatment according to the technique of Strelnikova there is a possibility of a slight dizziness, which usually ends at the end of training. With a strong dizziness, you need to perform the training complex in a sitting position, resting for five to ten seconds, taking a break after every four breaths-movements.
Having achieved a satisfactory therapeutic effect, you do not need to stop breathing exercises, because otherwise the duration of remission is not guaranteed.
Breathing exercises with bronchitis in Buteyko is a non-medicamentous way, which allows to prevent and stop acute attacks, as well as get rid of chronic diseases. The method was originally developed for the treatment of bronchial asthma. However, studies have shown that it can help with a variety of other diseases, in particular, bronchitis. These methods of delaying breathing can stop coughing, eliminate respiratory allergic manifestations, respiratory failure and arrhythmia. Treatment for this method can be carried out both for adults and children, but it is mandatory after the examination by appointment of a doctor and under the supervision of a instructor-methodologist who knows the knowledge and skills of carrying out respiratory gymnastics.
The course of treatment must necessarily be preceded by testing (deep-breathing test), which results in the conclusion that the disease is caused by deep breathing and it can be corrected using the method developed by K.P. Buteyko. Otherwise, the use of this method of treatment is not allowed. The sample to the depth of breathing can be done independently as follows: to prepare a stopwatch, it is convenient to sit down, putting your hands on your knees and leveling your back, making a regular breath, relaxing your abdominal muscles - the exhalation will happen involuntarily. Simultaneously hold your breath and notice the stopwatch data. During the delay of breathing, do not watch the running seconds, it is better to focus on something else or close your eyes. Do not breathe until the moment when the diaphragm moves and the musculature of the abdomen and neck spontaneously strains, it feels like a thrust in the throat. At this point, it is necessary to record the stopwatch and in the usual rhythm to continue breathing. Then measure yourself a pulse (you can do this before measuring the control pause).
The results are evaluated as follows:
- in a healthy person with a pulse rate of no more than 70 beats per minute, the respiratory retention delay exceeds 40 seconds;
- at the first stage of the disease, a control pause in the range of 20-40 seconds at a heart rate of about 80 beats per minute;
- on the second - a control pause within 10-20 seconds at a pulse rate of about 90 beats / min;
- if the period of a possible pause in the breath is less than 10 seconds, this corresponds to a fairly neglected disease.
The depth of breathing is measured repeatedly, and constant indices indicate a stable state.
Exercises of respiratory gymnastics are aimed at strong-willed elimination of deep breathing, that is, chronic hyperventilation of the lungs, which is the cause of many pathological conditions of the body. The result of deep breathing is the regular intake of excessive amounts of oxygen into the lungs, which contributes to large losses of carbon dioxide. Long-term hyperventilation provokes narrowing of the bronchi and arterial vessels carrying oxygen to various organs and tissues. There comes their oxygen starvation, all kinds of metabolic processes are violated, allergic reactions occur and a tendency to catarrhal diseases appears. With bronchitis, a decrease in the depth of breathing facilitates the easy separation of the bronchial mucous secretion (sputum), it becomes unnecessary for the body and ceases to be produced.
Respiratory gymnastics by Buteyko method is used only in the presence of symptoms and attacks of the disease. Its implementation is based on the following principles: normal breathing is not corrected; if the test shows deep breathing, then it begins to decrease with the help of stage-by-stage trainings both at rest and during physical exertion; training should be given at least three hours a day, with time the depth of breathing begins to decrease and without training; breathing is delayed only after exhalation; During the training, the patient should monitor the depth of his inspiration (to create a feeling of some lack of air). When performing breathing exercises the patient keeps a diary of observations of his condition. Classes are conducted only on an empty stomach, breathing is necessary only with the nose and not snore.
A gradual decrease in the depth of breathing is achieved when performing the following set of exercises.
Superficial breathing: repeat the sequence ten times - inhale for five seconds, exhale (5seconds) and a five-second pause (at this moment try to relax as much as possible).
Breathing belly and chest: ten times to repeat the sequence - breathing in for 7.5 seconds, the same duration of exhalation, five-second pause.
To make one time a point massage of the nose during the greatest respiratory pause.
Ten times to breathe right nostril, holding left, then left.
Ten times to repeat: in full breath (7,5 s), draw in the belly, exhale as much as possible, relaxing the abdominal muscles (7,5 s), five seconds pause.
Hyperventilation of the lungs - within one minute make the 12 deepest inhalations and exhalations (each inhale and exhale it takes five seconds).
Without resting, once possible the maximum possible holding of breath at the maximum exhalation is performed.
Then the so-called breathing is performed according to the levels:
- I (one minute) - is performed at a rate of four breathing cycles per minute: inhalation-exhalation-pause (for 5 seconds);
- II (two minutes) - performed at a rate of three breathing cycles per minute: breath-pause-exhalation-pause (for 5 seconds);
- III (three minutes) - performed at a rate of two breathing cycles per minute: breath-pause-exhalation (for 7.5 seconds), pause (5 seconds);
- IV (four minutes) - breath-pause-exhalation-pause (for 10 seconds gradually increasing to 15 seconds).
One time maximum hold your breath on inhalation, then exhale.
Maximum hold your breath, each position is executed from three to ten times: sitting, when walking on the spot, squatting.
The complex ends with a shallow breathing: sit in a comfortable position and, relaxed, breathe deeply, gradually reducing the volume of inhaled and exhaled air until the breath becomes completely invisible. It takes about three to ten minutes.
In patients performing respiratory gymnastics according to the method of K.P. Buteyko, after a while, from two weeks to two months, comes a cleansing reaction - a temporary exacerbation with increased separation of the bronchial secretion, an increase in body temperature, the appearance of pain. Symptoms of concomitant diseases may worsen. This is considered a good sign, talking about the normalization of metabolic processes and possible recovery.
Frequency of execution at first - in the morning and in the evening. With increasing control pause, the instructor can revise the training mode, reducing their frequency and increasing the duration.
So, to engage in breathing exercises by the Buteyko method is desirable under the supervision of a specialist and on the prescription of a doctor. But you can take on some of his advice: sometimes it's enough to stop breathing with your mouth and coughing. Even this can give an amazing result.
You should always always try to breathe only with your nose, even if it seems impossible at first. The body will begin to get used to the normal physiological type of breathing.
Then you can try to level and reduce the depth of breathing, trying to relax. Go from deep breathing to more superficial, just watching the reactions of your body.
The main thing in this case - in any case not to allow a strong shortage of air. A good sign of moderation in this respect is the lack of the need to "breathe in" after classes.
The breathing exercises of yogis with bronchitis (paranoma) can also be very effective, it can be performed at home. The main thing is to try not to overexert yourself and not feel any discomfort.
Exercise "Cleansing breathing" can be done in any standing position, sitting or lying down: a deep breath is drawn in the belly, then you need to exhale the air portionwise, pushing it out with a diaphragm, each serving should be smaller than the previous one. Exhale with the mouth, the lips should be folded with the letter "O", not straining, as if blowing out a candle of a smaller size. With a portioned expiration, there should be a feeling of relief.
"Super-breathable breath." It is necessary to inhale deeply and exhale deeply seven times. Then eight times to do the previous exercise with the following adjustments: exhale through the tightly compressed lips, powerful jerks, straining the diaphragm and pectoral muscles.
Dynamic breathing is performed from the lotus position (it can be from a simplified sukhasana or sitting on the heels) and includes such a complex of exercises:
- palms on his knees, do 10 deep breaths and exhales through the nose, then on the deep nasal inspiration maximally unfold the chest, relaxing the shoulder belt (shoulders lowered) and trying to inhale as much air as possible; on exhalation relax, rounded your back and head down (you can do up to 20 times);
- from the same position we perform rotations by the body: bending forward - breathing in, leaning back - exhaling; there are five rotations in one direction and five in the other;
- sitting in the same pose, inhale as much as possible to bend back, connecting the shoulder blades and stretching the thorax; on exhalation - a slope downwards, smoothly straightening shoulders; try to perform movements smoothly, undulating (repeat approximately 8 times).
It is advisable to begin practicing yoga breathing exercises under the guidance of an instructor.
With a child with bronchitis, you can learn the following exercises:
- offer the child to portray a crow: sitting on a chair or standing, inhale, raise your hands through the sides up, exhaling with a shout "K-ah-ah-rr!" to drop your hands also through the sides (repeat five times);
- play with the baby in the beetle: sitting on a chair, hands on the waist, taking a breath, turning the body to the left and pulling the left arm back, return to the starting position, breathing out the air with buzzing; repeat the exercise on the right side (five times in each direction);
- You can invite the child to breathe air through the cocktail tube, and exhale it with his nose;
- children are also happy to blow balloons.
You can think of other exercises with the utterance of buzzing and hissing sounds, they must be pronounced with an exhalation and with a loud voice. According to the time of employment with the child should take about ten minutes.
Contraindications to the procedure
In acute bronchitis, respiratory gymnastics is started on the second or third day after the initiation of drug therapy in the absence of high fever and other symptoms of acute intoxication. It is contraindicated in the following complications: respiratory failure of grade III, abscessed pneumonia, asthmatic status, pleurisy with a large accumulation of fluid, sputum with blood, complete atelectasis of the lung.
In chronic bronchitis, respiratory gymnastics is not recommended during periods of exacerbations, with decompensated concomitant diseases, in particular, hypertension, with a tendency to bleeding, with acute fever and cancer.
In addition, breathing exercises according to the Strelnikova technique are contraindicated in cases of craniocerebral trauma and spinal trauma, acute thrombophlebitis, severe osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic spine.
All these contraindications are relative, with the improvement of the patient's condition, the doctor can prescribe breathing exercises. The only absolute contraindication is mental retardation or mental illness, which does not allow understanding the essence of the method.
Yoga, moreover, is contraindicated in people who have artificial prostheses, because they can cause their rejection.
Consequences after the procedure
Employment of respiratory gymnastics in bronchitis, subject to contraindications, have positive consequences. Many patients with chronic bronchitis believe that they achieved a long-term remission only due to breathing exercises, as long-term drug treatment did not give such an impressive result.
Method K.P. Buteyko causes critical comments from physicians who believe that correcting breathing can lead to loss of the automaticity of the respiratory center, and this threatens a fatal outcome as a result of a complete stoppage of breathing. However, until now such cases are not known. There is evidence that after active and long-term exercise in the volitional elimination of deep breathing, the patients experienced a decrease in external respiration rates, in particular, lung capacity. The author himself believes that it is dangerous to control the amplitudes and duration of respiratory movements, in his techniques the depth of breathing is reduced only by relaxation. Healthy people generally should not use these techniques as preventive. Therefore, it is the Buteyko method that can be used only for the purpose and under the supervision of specialists.
Complications after the procedure of respiratory gymnastics are associated with improper conduct of occupations by not too competent people or the patient's independent practice and ignoring contraindications.
Of course, to inflate balls, do simple exercises (exhale through the tube into the water, inhale and exhale alternately left and right nostrils, and the like) and you can yourself. However, home workouts should not be long, cause discomfort (headache, dizziness, a desire to catch their breath).
And the use of the techniques of Strelnikova, Buteyko, and Indian yogis requires the control of the instructor, at least at the initial stages of the classes. Independent practices can be useless and even harmful to the body.