PAS Breathing Patterns & Postural Control Flashcards

The Valsalva maneuver—a forced exhalation against a closed glottis—is used in postural correction primarily to:

Answer: Maximize intra-abdominal pressure for heavy lifting or spinal stabilization

The Valsalva maneuver dramatically increases intra-abdominal pressure, providing rigid spinal support during maximal exertion, though it is contraindicated in certain populations.

A PAS client reports chronic anxiety and shallow breathing. Which breathing retraining technique is MOST evidence-supported for reducing sympathetic nervous system overactivation?

Answer: Slow diaphragmatic breathing at 4–6 breaths per minute (resonance frequency breathing)

Resonance frequency breathing (approximately 4–6 breaths per minute) maximizes heart rate variability and activates the parasympathetic system, reducing anxiety-driven sympathetic dominance.

Paradoxical breathing, where the abdomen moves inward during inhalation, is a sign of:

Answer: Diaphragm dysfunction or accessory muscle dominance

Paradoxical breathing indicates the diaphragm is not descending properly on inhalation; instead, accessory muscles lift the chest while the abdomen is pulled inward, a dysfunctional pattern.

A PAS specialist notices that a client's thoracic spine remains fixed and does not extend during deep inhalation. The MOST likely contributing factor is:

Answer: Thoracic hypomobility or costovertebral joint restriction

Full inhalation requires thoracic extension and ribcage expansion; costovertebral joint restriction or thoracic hypomobility prevents this normal accessory movement.

When integrating breathing retraining into a postural correction program, a PAS specialist should introduce diaphragmatic breathing FIRST in which position?

Answer: Supine (hook-lying) with knees bent

Hook-lying supine reduces the gravitational load on the chest wall and relaxes the hip flexors, making diaphragmatic descent easier to learn before progressing to loaded positions.

Which postural landmark misalignment is MOST directly corrected by improving diaphragmatic breathing and ribcage neutral positioning?

Answer: Anterior ribcage flare (lower rib protrusion) relative to the pelvis

Anterior ribcage flare—where the lower ribs protrude forward beyond the pelvis—is directly associated with an inhaled ribcage position corrected by diaphragmatic exhalation reset and neutral rib stacking.