Breathing Dysfunction Care | Isleworth Pain and Injury

Breathing Dysfunction

Breathing—something we do over 20,000 times a day—should come naturally. But for many people, breathing patterns become dysfunctional, often without even realising it. Whether due to stress, posture, injury, or underlying health issues, breathing dysfunction can have widespread effects on your body and well-being.

At Isleworth Pain and Injury Clinic, our experienced chiropractors and physiotherapists work closely with patients to restore healthy, efficient breathing and address the root causes of dysfunction. If you're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, neck pain, or shallow breathing, you may be dealing with more than just stress—you could be living with an underlying breathing dysfunction.

What Is Breathing Dysfunction?

Breathing dysfunction occurs when the natural biomechanics of breathing are disrupted. Rather than breathing efficiently using the diaphragm—a large muscle located beneath the lungs—people may begin to rely more on their chest and accessory muscles, like those in the neck and shoulders.

Over time, this can lead to:

Shallow, rapid breathing (also known as chest breathing)
Overuse of neck, shoulder, and upper back muscles
Reduced oxygen exchange
Increased tension and fatigue
Postural problems and pain

Common Signs and Symptoms

Breathing dysfunction doesn’t always present as obvious breathing trouble. Some signs are subtle and may be mistakenly attributed to other causes:

Chronic neck and shoulder tension
Anxiety or frequent sighing
Fatigue or brain fog
Poor posture, especially forward head posture
Tight chest or shallow breathing
Dizziness or light-headedness
Reduced exercise tolerance
Headaches
Sleep disturbances or snoring

Causes of Breathing Dysfunction

There are several potential causes of dysfunctional breathing patterns:

Poor Posture: Modern lifestyles often lead to slouched or forward-leaning posture, which restricts diaphragm movement and encourages shallow breathing.

Chronic Stress and Anxiety: Stress triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, resulting in rapid, shallow breathing. Over time, this pattern can become habitual.

Pain or Injury: Injuries, especially to the ribs, spine, or abdomen, can lead to altered movement and guarded breathing patterns.

Respiratory Conditions: Asthma, allergies, or past respiratory infections can contribute to long-term changes in breathing.

The Bigger Picture: How Breathing Affects Your Body

Your breathing doesn’t just impact your lungs—it influences your entire body. Dysfunctional breathing can affect:

Musculoskeletal health: Overuse of accessory muscles can lead to pain and tension.

Nervous system balance: Shallow breathing keeps your body in a state of stress.

Core stability: The diaphragm works with your core muscles; poor breathing weakens this system.

Circulation and energy: Inefficient oxygen exchange means your body works harder and tires faster.

How Isleworth Pain and Injury Clinic Can Help

Our team of chiropractors and physiotherapists takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to identify and correct breathing dysfunction. We focus on the nervous system, the musculoskeletal system, and movement patterns that influence breathing.

Postural Correction: We assess your spinal alignment and posture, particularly in the neck, upper back, and ribs, and provide targeted chiropractic care to restore optimal mechanics.

Manual Therapy: Soft tissue therapy and joint mobilisation can relieve tension in overworked muscles and improve rib and diaphragm mobility.

Breathing Retraining: We teach you how to reconnect with your diaphragm using specific breathing exercises that promote deep, efficient breaths—whether at rest or during movement.

Core and Functional Rehabilitation: Strengthening the deep core and improving functional movement helps integrate proper breathing into daily activities and exercise.

What You Can Expect from Treatment

At your initial consultation, we’ll:

Conduct a thorough assessment of your posture, breathing patterns, and musculoskeletal health.
Identify contributing factors such as stress, injury, or spinal dysfunction.
Create a personalised treatment plan that may include chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, breathing exercises, and postural retraining.

Our goal is to help you breathe better, move better, and feel better—naturally and sustainably.