Massage for improved lung function

When the respiratory system is under duress, the rib cage becomes tight, the lung capacity is shallow and the nervous and muscular systems struggle to relax. 

Massage works in helping your respiratory function by loosening and lengthening the muscles that have become contracted and which have suppressed normal breathing. Posture also improves greatly with massage, which, in turn, opens the chest area to improve lung function.

When performed on the back, along with vibration and shaking, tapotement (a Swedish massage technique that involves recurring tap strokes) can loosen mucus in the lungs and increase airway clearance for better lung function.

Benefits:

·      Encourages deeper breathing through relaxation

·      Calms the nervous system down

·      Loosening the intercostal muscles allowing the rib cage to expand

·      Lowers blood pressure and moves congestion

·      Generates heat to raise the respiratory rate and body temperature

·      Stimulates proprioceptors in the joints and increases respiration

By Sarah Sellick

Level 5 Sports Massage Therapist and Advanced Reflexologist