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Diaphragm Deconditioning After COVID
Hello, has anyone heard anything about diaphragm deconditioning after COVID? Or how that would be treated?
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Hello, has anyone heard anything about diaphragm deconditioning after COVID? Or how that would be treated?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.
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@baker00l, this can happen with respiratory illnesses or neurological illnesses. I found this one case study in the British Medical Journal related to COVID
- Unilateral diaphragm paralysis with COVID-19 infection Unilateral diaphragm paralysis with COVID-19 infection
Are you at risk of diaphragm paralysis? Did you have ventilation?
Hi, no I am not at risk. Someone recently mentioned that their diaphragm was damaged after COVID. And they had to build back up the strength and muscle. I have never heard of this in relation to COVID or any illness before.
In Pulmonary Rehab I was taught 'diaphragmatic breathing' by the Respiratory Therapists. This helps to really expand your lungs and exercise the diaphragm. In addition, I use an 'Incentive Spirometer' for deep breathing exercises and 'The Breather', a hand held breathing trainer with adjustable resistance. I use these twice a day to maintain lung capacity. I can tell a difference if I miss a couple days
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1 ReactionDiaphragm deconditioning can happen after any illness that affects the respiratory system over time, or even after surgery when one is inactive for a while. When I have had pneumonia, I have seen very significant drops in the numbers on my incentive spirometer, and had to reset the resistance on my Aerobika to a lower level & work back up.
Sue
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1 ReactionThank you everyone for this information! It is much appreciated!
People following this discussion may appreciate this article and video
- What Is Diaphragmatic Breathing? https://www.healthline.com/health/diaphragmatic-breathing
In this video Suzanne Smith, MSN, NP, CMT-P, discusses the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing and demonstrates the technique that can easily be incorporated into your daily life.
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2 ReactionsI have been diagnosed with a paralyzed diaphragm, from a sniff test & ct. I also have sarcoidosis and I feel it’s small cell neuropathy, but have not been able to get into a neurologist. My question is my symptoms started with numbness & burning in hands to arms chest & abdomen , could the paralyzed diaphragm have anything to do with the neuropathy symptoms I’m having ?