In this episode of Ask Giri – The Physio Show, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools for your health, your breath. Breathing might feel automatic, but when it becomes dysfunctional, it can quietly impact everything from posture and pain to sleep, anxiety, and performance.
Through years of hands-on experience, we’ve come to understand just how often breathing dysfunction shows up in patients with back pain, neck issues, or poor core stability. And the good news? With the right awareness and a few practical strategies, it’s something you can improve. In this blog, we walk you through how to recognize abnormal breathing, why it matters more than you think, and how we approach breath retraining across our physiotherapy clinics.
Watch the full Video Here:
Dysfunctional breathing means you’re not breathing the way your body is naturally designed to, without any underlying organic disease causing it.
It can show up as:
If you’re dealing with persistent pain, especially in the lower back, neck, pelvis or thoracic spine, breathing dysfunction could be part of the root cause.
We often think of the diaphragm as “just” a breathing muscle, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
It’s a multi-tasking powerhouse connected to:
Think of your torso like a pop can:
This “core canister” must maintain proper intra-abdominal pressure to support breathing, movement, continence and postural control. When your diaphragm isn’t doing its job, your posture and core strength suffer.
One of the most common problems we see? Mouth breathing.
Especially in people who are stressed, anxious, or unaware of their habits, and it’s not just an adult issue. We’re seeing mouth breathing in kids, too.
But here’s why nasal breathing is the healthier default:
Your tongue posture also plays a vital role. It should rest against the roof of your mouth, not the bottom. Poor tongue posture leads to jaw tension, airway dysfunction and even facial development issues in children.
Want to know if your breathing needs attention? Try these simple self-assessments:
Take a normal inhale, then exhale and hold your breath.
Stand in front of a mirror and look at your lower ribs.
Take a deep breath.
Do you have forward head posture, rounded shoulders, or a collapsed chest?
Close your mouth and notice where your tongue rests.
In all our affiliated clinics, we assess breathing as part of every single musculoskeletal assessment. We’ve learned that pain, posture, and performance cannot be separated from how you breathe.
Here’s how we help:
We palpate different parts of your rib cage, measure chest expansion, and observe your natural breathing patterns lying down, seated, and standing.
We check how your diaphragm and core muscles coordinate together. Dysfunction often shows up as instability during movement screens, like rolling, crawling, or squatting.
We start from the ground up:
We use neurodevelopmental frameworks to rebuild breathing from the base, just like a baby learns movement. Because breathing is the first stage of motor control.
We recommend tools like The Breather (available on Amazon) for respiratory muscle training. It’s a small, simple device that works your inhale and exhale muscles through graded resistance.
Many of our post-COVID patients, athletes, and chronic pain clients see excellent progress with this.
We often say: There is no orthopedic rehab without neurology.
Every breath influences how your brain communicates with your body through the autonomic nervous system. Dysfunctional breathing keeps you stuck in a sympathetic (stress) state, making recovery slower, movement harder, and pain stickier.
Correct breathing helps you access the parasympathetic (rest and heal) state, improving:
We assess your movement, posture and breath together, so we can treat the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Here’s your checklist to start improving your breathing right now:
If your score is higher than 11 or you notice multiple red flags, don’t wait. Book a consultation at any of our affiliated clinics for a complete respiratory and movement assessment.
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter programs. Every individual has a unique pattern of movement, posture, and breath. With our partnered clinics, we :
Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing chronic pain, working on athletic performance, or just trying to feel better, it starts with a better breath.
We tailor treatment to your needs, assess your breathing and movement patterns, and guide you through a path that’s built for real results. Flexible appointments are available, and a supportive team that listens and guides without judgment.
Take the first step. Understand your breath. Reclaim your health. Subscribe to Ask Giri – The Physio Show YouTube channel and stay tuned for more trusted advice from professionals who care.