A Breath of Fresh Air: Insights from Abby Stewart, The Breathing Physio
At North Shore Hand Therapy, we're always seeking to deepen our knowledge and enhance the holistic care we provide to our community. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting an insightful in-service session with the incredible Abby Stewart, known as "The Breathing Physio."
Abby is a Senior Musculo-Respiratory Physiotherapist, with a special passion for dysfunctional breathing and breathing pattern disorders. Her expertise, particularly as a BradCliff Breathing Method Certified Practitioner, truly opened our eyes to the profound connection between how we breathe and our overall health, including its impact on musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb.
Key Insights from Our Session with Abby
Abby's presentation underscored that breathing is far more than just taking air in and out. It's a fundamental system that influences everything from pain levels and muscle tension to stress, anxiety, and even recovery from injury. Here were some of our key takeaways:
Dysfunctional Breathing: Many people breathe inefficiently without even realising it. This can contribute to a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms, including neck pain, shoulder tension, headaches, and even chronic hand and wrist discomfort.
It's Not Just Respiratory Conditions: While breathing physios certainly help with lung conditions, Abby highlighted how dysfunctional breathing patterns can impact musculoskeletal health. Poor breathing can lead to creating a cascade of issues that can refer to the hands and wrists. This holistic view means that addressing breathing can significantly support recovery in conditions like carpal tunnel or tennis elbow, by reducing nervous system tension and improving muscle efficiency.
When Symptoms Don't Add Up: Abby shed light on how persistent symptoms or injuries that aren't responding to conventional physiotherapy might be related to underlying breathing pattern problems. The physiological responses associated with dysfunctional breathing and anxiety can create or perpetuate muscle tension and pain, which then influence the whole body.
We highly recommend connecting with Abby and exploring her insights further. You can find her work at The Breathing Physio and follow her valuable content on Instagram: @the_breathingphysio
Our team at North Shore Hand Therapy is excited to integrate these valuable learnings to provide even more comprehensive care. A huge thank you to Abby for sharing her expertise!
