Also known as: apical breathing, siphon breathing
What is Upper Chest Breathing?
Upper chest breathing, as its name suggests, uses the upper part of the chest to draw air into the lungs. In upper chest breathing, the neck tightens while the chest and shoulders lift up. The belly and abdominal muscles are disconnected. Imagine that you are trying to suck a particularly thick milkshake through a particularly narrow straw, and you’ll have the right idea.
Why Should You Generally Avoid Upper Chest Breathing?
Upper chest breathing isn’t very effective at providing oxygen for the body, because air is primarily directed into the upper lobes of the lungs, which are less efficient at absorbing oxygen into the bloodstream. In addition, upper chest breathing overuses muscles in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. These muscles are designed to be accessory (helper) muscles in breathing, but aren’t made to carry the main load of breathing. Over-using these muscles can lead to muscle fatigue, tightness, and pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
