Case Study: Integrating Diaphragmatic Breathing for Pain Relief and Stress Management

Emma (name changed), a woman in her 40s, recovering from breast cancer and recent health challenges, sought support for chest tension, stress, and high chest breathing. She experienced discomfort and pain in her chest and torso, alongside difficulty relaxing. The intervention focused on diaphragmatic breathing to relieve tension and pain, enhance relaxation, and gradually integrate exercises into daily life.

The Situation

• Client: Adult female (40s), previously treated for breast cancer, recovering from recent health issues including oesophagus/stomach discomfort, throat infection, and voice problems.

• Observations: Intelligent, positive, and motivated to make progress, but experiencing long-term and recent health challenges, cyclical negative thoughts, and anxiety. Always “switched on,” with high chest breathing, difficulty switching tasks, and feeling overloaded.

• Symptoms: Chest tension, short concentration, mood swings related to menopause, low blood pressure, and jerky chest breathing. Sleeps on back post-surgery and mouth breathes at night. Currently off work for four months due to burnout/exhaustion.

• Goal: Reduce chest tension, develop diaphragmatic breathing, increase relaxation, and integrate exercises into daily life.

Deciding on a Protocol

• Assessment: High chest breathing and sympathetic activation indicated need to focus on foundational diaphragmatic work. Pain and postural limitations influenced choice of exercises.

• Considerations: Client responds best lying down; seated exercises limited by discomfort. Gradual progression recommended to ensure comfort and prevent overload.

• Decision: Begin with hands-on lying, standing, and seated exercises; incorporate box breathing and breath-hold techniques; progress to more complex 478 breathing and movement integration as comfort increased.

Protocol

• Session 1: Lying down exercises focusing on chest/belly coordination, reduce volume, increase breathing rate; repeated standing and seated.

• Session 2: Box breathing (especially 4:4:4:4), dive exercises (exhalation twice as long as inhalation), simple 478 breathing; focus on relaxing diaphragm and torso.

• Progression: Gradual integration of breath-hold durations, torso movement during pauses, increasing client awareness of diaphragmatic breathing.

• Home Practice: Daily exercises incorporated into routines; client monitored progress and adjusted as guided.

Outcome

• Observable Changes: Reduced chest pressure, breathing descended to diaphragm, improved comfort during daily activities, pain-free exercises.

• Client Feedback: Felt more relaxed, able to hold breath longer, and confident in her practice.

• Daily Integration: Exercises embedded in routine with minimal guidance required.

• Overall Result: Significant improvement in chest tension, diaphragmatic engagement, and stress management; client highly satisfied with progress and results.