Shortness of breath and tight chest wall muscles

[Guest guest]

This is from the Januray 2008 issue of " The Fibromyalgia Network

Newsletter " :

" Flu and chest colds that cause frequent coughing, sneezing, or nose

blowing may eventually lead to shortness of breath with no

association to residual infecion or inflammation. Instead, your

sense of 'air hunger' is most likely due to tightness in the chest

wall, or intercostal muscles that encase your lungs. With too much

strain placed on these respiratory muscles, myofascial trigger points

(MTPs) may develop, causing tiny nodules that limit muscle elasticity

and produce chest pain.

Patients who are unable to cathc their breath usually end up in their

doctor's office. However, if the cause is tight chest wall muscles,

you breathing will appear normal and your chest X-ray will show that

your lungs are clear of infction. If you complain about chest pain,

your doctor may order a cardiac work-up, but the results will

probably be normal as well. On the other hand, if your physician is

aare that MTPs can restrict deep breathing, you may be referred to a

physical therapist who can pinpoint and correct the source of your

breathing difficulties.

Abnormal breathing or what is reffered to as paradoxical breathing

may also create shortness of breath. Paradoxical breathing patterns

frequently follow abdominal surgery. It is characterized by inhaling

through the upper chest while the abdomen is contracted (bringing the

diaphragm upwards when it should be moving down to expand the

lungs). Exhalation follows by contracting the muscles through the

chest while the abdomen relaxes (moving the diaphragm down). The

result is that the lungs do not expand to their full capacity on

inhalation. Then on exhalation, some air in the lower portion of the

lungs is pushed down toward the abdomen instead of expelled through

the noste. This counterproductive breathing pattern overloeads the

respiratory muscles and can lead to the development of MTPs.

If the source of your out of breath feeling cannot be identified with

medical tests, pay attention to the way you breathe. Your abdomen

(as well as chest) should expand when inhaling and contract when

exhaling. In orther wores, breath with your full chest and abdomen,

not just your upper chest muscles.

Ken Lamm, P.T., of Tuscon, AZ, who has more than 30 years experience

with applying physical therapy tehniques to manage chronic pain,

recommends a few simple stretches to keep intercostal (or rib cage)

muscles loose and relaxed. Physicians and patients wishing to learn

more about his highly effective tecniques should bisit his website at

222.respectpain.com. "

When my asthma acts up or I get chest tighteness, I work on trigger

points in the chest and rib cage using a lacrosse ball against the

wall or my hands. It always helps a lot. I follow the guidelines

in " The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook " by Clari Davies.

sue in ohio