By: Anthony Campo
Many individuals associate improving their health fitness with increasing their cardiovascular endurance training. For someone with poor strength and conditioning, jumping right into cardio can result in shoulder injury. When proper muscles and mechanics are not used for long periods of repetitive heavy breathing, imbalances can develop causing a cycle of dysfunction. It is important to learn and train proper posture and breathing habits as part of a complete training program.
For optimal breathing, all of the muscles should be used in coordination with each other. The muscles listed under Principal and Active Breathing should be the primary driver of the breathing process. With poor mechanics and weakness in the primary muscles, dysfunction begins to occur. As the cycle continues, the primary muscles become de-conditioned and weakened over time which leads to excessive use of the accessory muscles. The accessory muscles are not only negatively impacted by poor breathing mechanics and weakness of the primary muscles, but also create poor posture from excessive sitting and use of electronic devices.
*The cycle of dysfunction related to the shoulder as a result of improper breathing habits is as follows…
Inactivity Poor Mechanics/Posture Tight Overactive Breathing Accessory Muscles Weakening of Core and Scapular Muscles Increased Poor Mechanics/Posture Injury Repeat