Breathing is Kinda Important....

This next anatomy post is going to be a little different. It may be one of the most important structures for everyday life, as well as moving, feeling, and functioning to the best of your ability.
I'm going to discuss the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is a dome shaped sheet of muscle that is positioned at the base of the thorax and right above the abdomen. You can find it by placing your fingers right around your lower ribs. The diaphragm is a breathing muscle. During normal breathing, the diaphragm contracts downward creating a vacuum in the thoracic cavity so the lungs will inflate and when it relaxes, you breathe out and air flows out of the lungs, similar to when a balloon deflates. 
 

The Diaphragm, like any other muscle can become tight, overworked and dysfunctional. When that happens it can be felt in a variety of ways often throughout the entire body. We do a lot of breathing everyday, so if we are breathing into our chest, instead of our belly, dysfunction can occur. Stress is also a huge cause of problems with breathing. If you think you're having issues with your diaphragm, get assessed! It's amazing when your body can do when it's functioning properly!

Breathing is imperative to healthy movement! I encourage you to notice how you breath today, is it shallow and into your chest? Do your shoulders move when you take a deep breath? Slow down and let your diaphragm do it's very important job!
Have a healthy Sunday friends!