Sasha‘s Answer:
People with COPD or damaged lungs often have difficulty breathing due to airflow limitation. When normal breathing becomes challenging, they begin using additional muscles (called accessory muscles of respiration) to help move air in and out of the lungs. These muscles include those in the shoulders, neck, and upper chest (including muscles under the armpits).
Shoulder movement during breathing is a visible sign that a person is using these extra muscles to assist with inhalation. This typically occurs when someone feels short of breath and makes extra effort to breathe.
This pattern is commonly associated with over-breathing or hyperventilation. The Buteyko method aims to reduce this by encouraging calm, gentle, subtle breathing. I teach my clients to breathe in an “invisible” way, where only the abdomen moves slightly, if at all, during inhalation at rest. This quiet, reduced breathing helps minimize or stop hyperventilation and supports overall health.
