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Address breathing technique
June 2009
Not addressing breathing patterns of
asthmatics is negligent, Auckland physiotherapist and co-founder
of Breathing Works clinic, Tania Clifton-Smith, says.
While Ms Clifton-Smith says asthma medication is essential, she believes
little attention is paid to breathing techniques - leading to
worsened outcomes for asthma sufferers.
“Curiously, since the advent of user-friendly inhalers 30-odd
years ago and newer asthma ‘wonder drugs’, less attention
has been paid by the medical profession to the business of breathing itself.
“Dependency on asthma medication is regarded as the norm and there
is little encouragement for people with asthma to try alternative methods to control their breathing.”
She says pharmacists can encourage patients to address their breathing,
in conjunction with taking medication.
“Pharmacists know any more than
three puffs a week of Ventolin, excluding if it is for exercise, should
be questioned.”
Ms Clifton-Smith says overuse of medication means the asthma
may not be under control, and breathing patterns should be addressed.
In 1999, she founded Breathing Works – the first independent
breathing pattern disorders clinic in Australasia – together
with physiotherapist Dinah Bradley.
The two also established a method of breathing, focusing on
respiratory and musculoskeletal steps - the BradCliff method.
There are nine steps to the SmithBradCliff method and these are tailor-made
to individuals.
“There is a retraining, going from a faulty energy, poor pattern
- consuming lots of energy - to one where you’ve got good
physiology and good mechanics that allows balance and relaxation.”
Breathlessness often misinterpreted
A good pattern
means people are less likely to be histamine
riddled, which means people will be less likely to react to triggers,
Ms Clifton-Smith says.
“When you breathe badly, you riddle your body with histamine,
so therefore you’re much more susceptible to quittingtriggers.
If you breathe well, the histamine is a lot lower.
“Many individuals misinterpret breathlessness or ‘air
hunger’ as an asthma episode. Instead
of immediately reaching for an inhaler, good breathing practice is what we advocate.
If this does not relieve symptoms, an action plan must be followed
using medication,” Ms Clifton-Smith says.
In 2008, Mike Thomas’ large randomised controlled trial was published
in Thorax (2009;64;55–61), showing physiotherapy-based breathing training programmes improved asthma control and reduced the impact
of asthma on patients’ lives.
It improves quality of life, Ms Clifton-Smith says.
From 20 June, physiotherapists who have undergone specific training
in the BradCliff method will be available in all the major centres
of New Zealand.
Pharmacy Today
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