Total balance

Asthma is a common respiratory disorder that affects approximately 1 in 10 Australians. It is a condition that can be debilitating and affects people of all ages from young infants to the elderly.
It is unknown why people suffer from asthma. Some think it may be due to a genetic predisposition whilst others believe an allergic reaction triggers the condition.

In the allergic type of asthma, an attack is triggered by inhaling or consuming some kind of external substance such as dust, pollen, wheat, dairy or mould.
Attacks in non-allergic asthmatics can be triggered by a range of different factors such as stress, fatigue, some medications, physical exercise / exertion or exposure to surroundings that are cold or damp. Often asthmatics suffer from a combination of the allergic and non-allergic types but one seems to be more prevalent.

What happens to your body during an asthma attack…

Asthma is a breathing problem caused by the increase sensitivity of the airways in the lungs. When they are exposed to your certain triggers, a bronchial spasm (airway spasm) and narrowing of the airways occurs making it difficult for you to breathe.

There are 2 main events that occur in your lungs which causes your airways to narrow.

• The inside lining of the airways becomes red and swollen as an inflammatory reaction begins. Extra mucous is also secreted from the airways to line the walls causing a thick sticky lining of phlegm.
• The muscles surrounding the airway pipes tighten and spasms causing the airway passage to narrow. This is called broncho-constriction.

As a result, it is more difficult for air to flow in and out of the lungs.

Asthma sufferers may experience a wheezing noise as air tries to enter and exit the lungs which is often accompanied by a tight and restricted chest.
The wheezing sound is because by the noise of the air passing though the narrow, swollen airway. In most cases, an irritating deep cough is also present with small amounts of thick stringy mucous being coughed up.

When the attack is severe, the airways narrow and swell so much that the reduced amount of air entering the body causes the diaphragm (our primary muscle of respiration) to recruit other muscles to help you breath. These muscles attach to the rib cage and are found in your neck, back and abdomen. They work to help open the chest up and let more air into the lungs. The extra recruitment of muscles requires extra energy to be expelled. This in turn causes severe breathlessness and exhaustion.

HOW CAN OSTEOPATHS HELP ASTHMATICS…

As osteopaths, we will work on all areas around the chest to maximize lung and rib cage function. These areas include the ribs, muscles of the chest, back and neck, mid spinal joints, nerve supply to the lungs as well as blood flow, fluid supply and drainage to the lungs and airways. Osteopaths can also play an important preventative role with your asthma by helping identify your triggers, maximizing your efficiency with breathing though balancing all areas around your chest and modifying your exercise or diet regimes to help minimize the incidences of your attacks.

WHAT WILL THE OSTEOPATH DO…

Every treatment is different for every patient depending on the severity of your asthma, what problems you present with and how long they have been there for. All osteopathic treatments involve manual techniques that aim to balance the normal homeostasis between all of the systems of the body (ie. muscles, joints, ligaments, connective tissues, lymphatic, nerves, circulatory etc) by focusing the treatment mainly on the musculoskeletal system.

On your first visit, we will discuss and record your medical history in detail. This includes how long you have had asthma for, what medications are you currently taking, what symptoms you are presenting with and what areas are causing you discomfort. A full examination will be conducted and then we will conduct any necessary medical examinations such as looking in your ears, eyes and nose.

We will then treat those areas that we assessed with gentle techniques to correct the sources of pain and dysfunction. These gentle techniques include soft tissue massage, stretching, articulation, muscle energy techniques, myofascial release and visceral. It is important that we ensure your diaphragm and all of the muscles acting on the rib cage are performing optimally and the rib cage is functioning correctly.

Osteopathic treatment will assist in maintaining homeostasis and have a positive influence on your circulatory, nervous and respiratory systems. By doing this, the positive effects will filter down through your system to your joints and tissues to improve elasticity and mobility which will increase the healing process and decrease the risk of an attack.

BUT YOU MUST KEEP TAKING YOUR MEDICATION…

Asthma medications are so important in decreasing the inflammation and relaxing the broncho-dilator muscles in your airways, especially during an acute attack. They also have a very important role in eliminating any bacteria in your lungs that may trigger an attack or illness.

Osteopaths work in conjunction with other health care professionals with long term aims of decreasing your dependency with medications. For example, with the advice on exercise and diet in conjunction with regular osteopathic treatment (approximately once every 4-6 weeks), your use of asthmatic medications can be drastically reduced. With optimal lung function and balance of the body, the risk of attack or worsening of symptoms can be decreased when you get a cold or the flu.

Areas of management by osteopaths focus on individual exercise programs, advice on diet, posture and lifestyle. A particular emphasis is placed on breathing exercises and the avoidance of aggravating factors.

Although osteopathy can help you as an asthmatic, it is still very important to take your medication as prescribed.