PAS PAS Breathing Patterns & Postural Control 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which breathing pattern is most commonly associated with upper crossed syndrome and forward head posture?
- Apical / accessory muscle breathing (Correct answer)
- Diaphragmatic / abdominal breathing
- Lateral costal breathing
- Nasal breathing with full excursion
Correct answer: Apical / accessory muscle breathing
Apical breathing overactivates the scalenes, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid, reinforcing the muscle imbalances seen in upper crossed syndrome.
Question 2: The diaphragm contributes to lumbar spinal stability primarily through its role in:
- Increasing intra-abdominal pressure during contraction (Correct answer)
- Directly attaching to the lumbar vertebrae as a spine extensor
- Compressing the thoracic spine
- Elevating the ribcage
Correct answer: Increasing intra-abdominal pressure during contraction
Diaphragmatic contraction increases intra-abdominal pressure, which stiffens the lumbar spine by creating a hydraulic cylinder effect in the abdominal cavity.
Question 3: A PAS client who chronically over-breathes (hyperventilates) is MOST likely to exhibit which postural finding?
- Elevated and flared lower ribcage with reduced thoracic mobility (Correct answer)
- Posterior pelvic tilt
- Excessive lumbar flexion
- Collapsed medial arches
Correct answer: Elevated and flared lower ribcage with reduced thoracic mobility
Chronic hyperventilation keeps the thoracic cage in an inhaled (elevated, flared) position, reducing thoracic rotation and altering the resting length of core muscles.
Question 4: Which nerve innervates the diaphragm and, when compressed by poor cervical posture, can impair respiratory function?
- Phrenic nerve (C3–C5) (Correct answer)
- Vagus nerve (CN X)
- Intercostal nerve (T1–T12)
- Long thoracic nerve (C5–C7)
Correct answer: Phrenic nerve (C3–C5)
The phrenic nerve originates at C3–C5 and descends to innervate the diaphragm; cervical compression can reduce diaphragmatic drive and breathing efficiency.
Question 5: Lateral costal breathing is taught in PAS corrective programs primarily to:
- Improve thoracic cage mobility and reduce compensatory accessory muscle use (Correct answer)
- Increase tidal volume by engaging the scalenes
- Stabilize the lumbar spine during heavy lifting
- Stretch the lumbar multifidus
Correct answer: Improve thoracic cage mobility and reduce compensatory accessory muscle use
Lateral costal breathing expands the rib cage sideways, improving thoracic mobility and training clients to breathe without over-recruiting neck and shoulder muscles.
Question 6: During a 360-degree breathing assessment, a PAS specialist looks for equal expansion in which three planes?
- Anterior, lateral, and posterior ribcage expansion (Correct answer)
- Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar movement
- Sagittal, frontal, and transverse pelvic tilt
- Scapular retraction, elevation, and depression
Correct answer: Anterior, lateral, and posterior ribcage expansion
Optimal diaphragmatic breathing produces symmetric anterior, lateral, and posterior ribcage expansion, indicating full 360-degree intra-abdominal pressure generation.
PAS PAS Breathing Patterns & Postural Control 1
Which breathing pattern is most commonly associated with upper crossed syndrome and forward head posture?