Salient. Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 42 No. 13. June 11 1979
More on the Exercise for Asthmatics
More on the Exercise for Asthmatics
We have heard from some asthmatics that a bit more information on how and why asthma occurs, and what kind of exercise, will help. Each week, we will add a few more notes on the subject. Looking at the lungs First; the bulk of the lungs is made up of elastic spong-like tissue which sucks in and expels air as a sponge does water. To accomplish the movement of air out and into the lungs, they are alternately squeezed and stretched as the chest cavity is made smaller or larger by two different forces. Both of these involve the actions of muscles. One is the movement of the ribs and walls of the chest, the other the raising and lowering of the large dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm which separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity.
Normally, breathing is automatic, easy and un restricted. In bronchia] asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema there is a narrowing of the air ways in segments of the lungs. This results in increased resistance to the flow of air both in and out of the lungs. Because of this the body must work harder in emptying and filling the lungs.
It is common in asthmatic conditions for the lungs to have become over-inflated. They have lost much of their elasticity and no longer help to fill up the diaphragm. This condition changes the division of work between the diaphragm and the muscles of the chest. The chest muscles do more and more of the work breathing while the diaphragm does proportionately less. The chest muscles are not designed to carry the greater [ unclear: wor] load in breathing. Consequently, Recreation Centre programmes are designed to restrengthen or rebuild inadequate musculature which is present in many asthmatics. Other exercises which are available are related to breathing While mastering these, you will be able to Irani the mechanics of proper breathing and at the same time how to relax and use the available oxygen as effectively as possible.