Breathing pattern disorder: A case study from the Breathing MOT

Many people come to the Breathing MOT with a similar story:

“All my tests are normal… but my breathing still doesn’t feel right.”

This case study reflects a common scenario for our patients where symptoms are real, persistent and limiting, but the underlying cause isn’t immediately obvious.

The background

Our patient, Maneesha, had been suffering with several months of ongoing symptoms, including:

• Breathlessness during everyday activities

• A feeling of not being able to “get a full breath in”

• Tightness through the chest and upper body

• Increasing frustration that medical tests hadn’t provided answers

She had already undergone investigations, all of which came back within normal limits. Despite this, her symptoms continued, particularly during periods of stress and physical activity.

What her consultation identified

During the assessment, several key findings emerged:

• A tendency towards upper chest-dominant breathing, with overuse of the neck and shoulder muscles

• Reduced contribution from the diaphragm, meaning breathing was less efficient

• Increased breathing rate at rest, particularly during conversation

• Poor coordination between breathing and movement

  
  

There were no signs of underlying respiratory disease but there was clear evidence that the mechanics of Maneesha's breathing had shifted away from an efficient pattern.

Understanding the “why”

A key part of treating a breathing pattern disorder is not just identifying what is happening, but why.

In this case, the breathing pattern appeared to be influenced by a combination of factors:

• Physiological: a previous illness had temporarily disrupted normal breathing

• Mechanical: ongoing tension through the chest and upper body

• Psychological: increased awareness of breathing and anxiety around symptoms

This combination had led to a dysfunctional pattern that the body had effectively “learnt”, even though it was no longer helpful.

What happened next

After being seen Maneesha left the consultation with:

• A clear explanation of what was happening

• Reassurance that her symptoms had an identifiable and manageable cause

• Initial strategies to begin improving her breathing pattern consisting of exercises to deactivate her upper chest muscles and reduce her respiratory rate.

• We recommended a programme of breathing pattern re-education to get her breathing on track and reduce her symptoms.

Maneesha left her consultation with a solid understanding of what and why this was happening to her breathing so the next steps were informed and appropriate.

The outcome

With a better understanding of her breathing and after completing breathing pattern re-education, Maneesha reported:

• A dramatic improvement in her symptoms

• Reduced anxiety around her symptoms

• Improved awareness of how she was breathing during the day

• A sense of control returning to her usual activities

• A better quality of life

For many people, this is the turning point, moving from uncertainty to understanding.

If this resonates with you, make an appointment

Breathing issues don’t always show up on scans or tests. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t real or that they can’t be addressed.

A Breathing MOT helps to:

• Identify whether a breathing pattern disorder may be present

• Explain why symptoms are happening

• Provide a clear direction forward

  
  

If your breathing doesn’t feel right, and you’re still searching for answers, take the first step to finding out what's causing your symptoms. Book here now or email us at enquiries@airphysiotherapy.co.uk or call 020 7971 1464 if you'd like to know more.