Abstract

Mechanical dyspnea (breathing pattern disorders), such as hyperventilation or hypoventilation, can result in increased pain and have negative mechanical, psychological, emotion, and biochemical effects.^1,2,3 Proper breathing helps to stabilize the spine, maintain posture, and decrease anxiety. Injuries to the abdominal and pelvic diaphragms can disrupt proper breathing mechanics, leading to increased pain, anxiety, poor posture, and poor spinal and overall body mechanics. Osteopathic manipulative treatment can help restore proper diaphragmatic motion and proper breathing mechanics as the present case will demonstrate.