Experiencing Bronchitis? Try Massage Therapy!

Contrary to popular belief, massage therapy isn’t JUST beneficial for the chronic muscular aches and pains brought on my everyday life. Let’s talk about respiratory conditions for a second! Chronic bronchitis is a common condition people face when the season changes amongst other causes like smoking, certain medications, irritant inhalants and viral infections. Chronic bronchitis can manifest itself with a chronic cough, abnormal breathing and blue coloured lips and nail beds which is an indication of limited oxygen.

So how can massage therapy help? Massage therapy aims to do the following:

- Mobilize and remove secretions in the lungs to help increase air flow

- Decrease the muscle tone in the muscles used to breath to allow for deeper and longer breaths

- Help to mobilize the rib cage which will allow the lungs to expand wider

- Help develop diaphragmatic breathing which will train the body to use the diaphragm which is the body’s primary muscle of respiration

- Address postural imbalances that could be affecting breathe flow