Hard time taking full breaths on surface?

[seaholic]

Hello

My name is Richard and I am a long time freediver and spearfisherman. I use to be a member here many many years ago. I guess it was long enough to where I had to register again. So in reality I am not a new member but it doesn't hurt to introduce myself again.

Anyway, hopefully someone can answer this question I have.

Lately while I am on the surface breathing up, I am finding it very hard to breath to full breath at ease. It is as if I have to put all my effort and energy into it just to take that nice deep breath. Not being able to take that deep breath easily is really effecting my relaxation and concentration.

It feels like as if my muscles to my lungs are not strong and in shape, I did start running in hopes to cure this problem and found some improvement but no where near where I would like to be. Another guess I have on what might be the problem is perhaps that stretching my lungs is what I need to do. Just not sure and I would really like to find the source of the problem so I can attack it effectively.

I would really appreciate any input anyone may have on why you think I am having this problem and how to best resolve it.

Thanks in advance

 

[azapa]

Hello Richard,

you can practise breathing at home better than out in the ocean. Try it in front of a mirror. See it as three stages:
- lower the diaphragm and slowly suck air in (in the mirror it will look as though your belly is filling, but you should really be pulling your diaphragm down)
- next, fill the chest
- next raise the shoulders and fill the upper airspace

If you practice that dry it should be easier in the water. what you describe sounds just like you are out of practice or maybe a little unfit.

I'm sure the others will chime in

good luck and welcome back

 

[vali]

try to stay horizontally at the surface
try not to wear a verry small suit [the suit can affect the breath if is to small]
try use both type of inhalling at once: with torace an belly

 

[seaholic]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I have been freediving for over 15 years and never had this problem. I am pretty experienced as far as knowing how to breath up and knowing when my wetsuit is too tight and such.

The only thing different as far as my body that I know of is that right now my back is all out of adjustment. Sometimes it is as if I get this little pinch in my back when I take a deep breath. Regardless of the pinch I sometimes can't even get that deep breath that I want.

As far as out of shape, MMM, maybe, but I have been way more out of shape before and never had this problem.

I was guessing that strengthening my muscles is what I need to do, or maybe lung stretching. Just don't know. All I know is I there is 5 month left till the US spearfishing Nationals so I need to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

Any other advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[trux]

Maybe seeing your physician and having your lungs and spine x-rayed may shed more light on it. You could always pack (pump the air by mouth into the lungs) instead of inhaling classically, but if there is some problem with your lungs, muscles, ribcage, or back, then you better cure it first.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Welcome Richie.

For those of you who don't know him, I can't resist saying that this is not some beginner. He is an animal, and dives deeper, stays down longer, and shoots more fish than almost everyone in South California. He is a top competitive spearfisherman. If he is having trouble taking a full breath, it probably means he is only staying down twice as long as I am rather than three times as long.

I mention this simply so that you can tailor your advice to someone who knows what he is doing rather than thinking he is someone who is trying to figure out which end of the snorkel to put in his mouth.

 

[hteas]

Richard,
Have you tried wind sprints to work on your lungs? I do them on a kickboard without fins.
I've been doing a dozen, once a week, 25 yd/m at absolute maximum speed, rest 30 seconds, then do the next one (and try to never puke into the pool). Seems to work well for keeping me and my lungs in shape.

Howard

 

[Fondueset]

Hey Richie,

I'd see a doc post haste. And a good chiropractor. Having your back out can certainly wack your breathing. Also stress can tighten up your heart and make recoveries a bitch.

Shit! Now I remember you from Hatteras - cracking me up as I bounced on the floor of Mark's boat between heaves over the side. In my country we have no backs.

Heres a suggestion. It'll work in the water best -but you can do it anywhere in any relaxed position - sitting included if your knees are lower than your hips. As you breath try to relax your back. Try to feel the spaces between the vertebrae expand and contract with each breath. Don't take huge breaths at first - just try to feel your way in there - expanding on the inhale - relaxing deeply on the exhale. Sometimes short, quick but gentle little breaths can help - the main thing is to feel and kind of open it up to sensation - so you have to be patient. I do this during all my breathups - sometimes my back will crack just from this - as I relax and things fall back into place. As you work it you can draw in your abdomen a little on the inhale - to help expand the back - gentle is really best though - your trying to let things fall back into place - rather than pushing them.

If you do any stretching or anything don't go all out - focus on sensation and relaxing and breath - also best to avoid flexing the spine from side to side. My guess would be strength is not your problem

 

[cdavis]

Ditto on Fondueset's advice. IMHO you have something out of adjustment in your spine, back muscles, or similar. Find the right kind of doc. If there is somebody good who is a neuo-muscular therapist in your area, that is another discipline that might help a lot, did wonders for me. Once you get beyond modern "western" medicine, it is a little bit of a crap shoot as to what type of practitioner is best. Skill level of the individual can also make a huge difference. It may take some experimentation. Expensive, but worth it in the end.

Good luck and shoot a few for me

Connor

 

[vali]

last night before sleep i give a thaught to your problem...
regardless of what i wrote in my above post, i remember that i have this problem to...
in my case the answer is simple:
i have this affection called "hiatalic hernia" wich means that a little part of my stomack invaded trought diaphragma the space where the loungs and heart are...
try to made some eco, talk to your physician
i know that i have this problem and i know that somehow, sometime i can't make a full-breath inhalation...

 

[seaholic]

Thanks al lot fro all your replies,

I am pretty sure now that in my case it is in fact a back problem that is causing my symptoms. Perhaps a rib is out of place or my nerves are pinching something. Anyway I just got ex rayed yesterday and will find out results today. The reason why I am pretty sure its a back thing is because every time I get adjusted I feel 10 times better that day but within a day or so It gets all messed up again. In any case I hope I can find the best solution as quick as possible to eliminate this problem.

Thank for the help guys.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Richie,

I've had a back problem since I was a teenager, although luckily it never seems to have affected my breathing. A couple of years ago it got really bad, and I tried a chiropractor for a while, but it didn't seem to be doing me any good. I finally went to a doc who referred me to a physical therapist, and that guy helped me a lot. Not only did he do different stuff in the office, but he gave me exercises to do at home, and they help a lot if I'm diligent about doing them.

Of course every back is different, and I guess some people get relief from chiropractic, but I thought I'd just relate my experience for what its worth.

 

[Fondueset]

I think you are right Richie - I've been there - exactly as you describe. For many many years I had a pretty intense yoga practice - which really did not help my back - mainly because I did really very extreme postures.
In any case - what has helped me most was developing an intelligent practice - with help from some very experienced teachers - and doing Taiji. The latter I think because of the emphasis on deep relaxation and alignment.

The Chiro helps because they are able to adjust things - but the cause is in long term patterns and habits stored in the body - Which things like Yoga and Taiji can help undo - as long as you practice intelligently.

All thats why I mentioned deep relaxation and breathing - that seems to be the essence of what has helped me.