Breathing exercises for asthma

The breathing exercises used in asthma serve on the one hand to be able to provide first aid for those affected in an acute asthma attack. They help to relax the cramped bronchial muscles. In long-term therapy, they are used to support the respiratory muscles, lungs and bronchi in their function.

1.) Lip Brake The lip brake is a breathing technique designed to relax the airways. Breathe in normally and then place your lips loosely on top of each other so that you have to breathe against resistance when exhaling through the mouth.

This creates a backlog of air. This increases the air pressure on the bronchi so that they cannot collapse. 2.)

Diaphragm/abdominal breathing This technique is intended to reduce the work of breathing. For the exercise lie on your back and fold your hands over your abdomen. Now try to breathe in such a way that your abdomen rises and falls significantly during breathing.

The easiest way to do this is to breathe in through your nose and out with the lip brake. 3.) Cross-legged seat Sit cross-legged.

Your hands are on your knees. When breathing in, press lightly on your knees. Then exhale slowly through the lip brake.

4.) Baby position Kneel on the floor and lay your forehead on the floor in front. Your buttocks are on your heels and your hands touch behind your back at the level of your lumbar spine. Now breathe in and out towards your toes.

Breathing exercises for children

There are also a number of exercises for the youngest children that can improve breathing and contribute to general relaxation and concentration. The exercises can also help with allergies and asthma, giving the child more self-confidence and a more confident approach to the disease. 1.)

Cuddly Toy Breathing In this exercise, the child puts his or her favorite cuddly toy on his or her stomach.Now you breathe in such a way that the cuddly toy slowly rises and falls, visible for the child. The children can imagine that they wanted to slowly rock the animal to sleep by breathing. 2.)

Blowing windmill or soap bubbles. Here, the breathing strength can be tested and strengthened playfully through various breathing techniques. For example, the children can try to blow on the windmill with their nose or mouth and try out different techniques for forming soap bubbles.

3.) Relief exercise Here the child sits at the front of the chair edge. The legs are straddled and the forearms are supported on the knees.

The back is long and straight. Now slowly breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. 4.) Ghost Breathing During the exercise the child gets a thin cloth put over the head. Now inhale slowly through the nose and then exhale with a quiet ghostly “huuuuuu” through the mouth.