ALS News Today - OS RESETS Contribute to Overall Strength and Mobility

Categories: In The News May 29, 2018

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Take a deep breath in

Deep breathing depends on both our lung capacity and the strength of our torso muscles. A ribcage that expands, a flexible spine, strong abdominal muscles, and a supportive lower back all help to create space for lungs to expand.

I practice the simple exercise sequence taught by Original Strength, called Resets. These include deep diaphragmatic breathing, head nods, rolling, rocking, and crawling.

The easy-to-do movements are performed on the floor “baby-style,” but they can be adapted easily for sitting in a chair or lying on a bed mattress. I’ve been doing these for eight years now, and I feel they have contributed to my continued overall strength and mobility.

I also use a tip I picked up from voice and speech expert Andrea Caban. In her “Living Speech Series,” a course for ALS patients, she recommends doing the following when taking a spirometry test:

Don’t take a deep breath by lifting your shoulders up to your ears. Keep your shoulders relaxed and down. Focus instead on expanding the lower lungs and moving the rib cage out sideways.

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

When Dagmar Munn was diagnosed with ALS in 2010, she tapped into her nearly 30 years of professional experience helping others reach and achieve their health goals. She not only follows her own wellness and fitness advice but inspires and teaches others to do the same through her ALS and Wellness Blog. Dagmar enjoys finding humor in life’s situations and spends her free time pursuing creative projects in fiber arts.