Diaphragm: Center of the body and key factor for dysfunction and pain
The human body is extremely intricate, and each year we are learning more but one consistent truth is how intertwined the systems are. More complex than just your knee affecting your hip, but that changes in your organs can change how you hold yourself upright, which then affects the back. This is where holistic (full-body) treatment in physical therapy comes in and is a core principle for Paradigm physical therapists. This complexity is true with one of our key muscles of the body that is many times forgotten, the diaphragm. The diaphragm is our primary muscle when it comes to restful breathing, it rests on the inside of our lower ribs and on top of the organs. We have been aware of the shape of the diaphragm since it was first discovered, and the fact that it is asymmetric (see figure 1). But it has been only more recent that we have researched the impact of its shape and function on the rest of the body.
Multiple types of treatment/areas of study have looked into the effect of the asymmetry of the body and specifically the diaphragm. Postural Restoration is one among many that understand the significance of the diaphragm on people’s overall function and how it directly relates to many individuals’ pain they come into therapy with. The diaphragm not only attaches to the ribs (as the figure shows) but also to select vertebrae of the back as well. Dysfunction of this muscle can directly lead to back problems due to these connections but also vice versa. Chronic pain has been linked to abnormal breathing patterns, which leads to increased muscle tone and in many cases more continued pain. Once the center of your body is in disarray, this can lead to spread of abnormal tone of the muscles to your extremities; one specific concept is groups of muscles working together. This could mean your diaphragm being out of proper sync could lead to wide-spread dysfunction of a whole chain of muscles down one or both legs.
What can you do for yourself? When going through a new or old chronic injury, be aware of what that does to your breathing patterns. Over time, impaired breathing can lead to increased fight or flight response in your body which increases the amount of stress hormones you have going through your body. It also leads to increased rigidness of your body as a whole, so if you are battling low back pain for example, it leads to a cascade of worsening stiffness and dysfunction. If you get to the point where you feel your pain is out of control, physical therapy can help reset your body systems and put you in the direction of healing. All our therapists at Paradigm are trained in a full body approach of care and can help your body discover that balance.
