16/02/2023
The diaphragm is a dome shaped wall of muscle (innervated by cervical nerves C3-5) that lies at the bottom of the ribcage, separating the lungs and heart from the organs underneath ( liver, stomach, pancreas, spleen and intestines) and also providing a sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach (to help control things such as reflux).
It is the primary breathing muscle that contracts to suck air into the lungs, and then relaxes as we exhale. It moves together with the pelvic floor to provide abdominal support. When we control our breathing, we can exercise control over our (parasympathetic) chill out nervous system, and when we breathe long, slow breaths, we create a wave of movement through the viscera, essential for good health and circulation. If this wave is reduced through short shallow breaths, we have less oxygen travelling in our system which leads to fatigue.
So, through the diaphragm we can exercise conscious control over our breathing and nervous system, and then when we sleep, the diaphragm runs on automatic.
Learning to relax this muscle is an essential part of good health.
Call Chiroposture to find out more.
