The respiratory system delivers oxygen and dispenses carbon dioxide through the body’s blood. When inhaling, oxygen enters through the nose or mouth. The oxygen then travels through the larnyx, trachea, bronchi, bronchial tubes, and then the lungs. It then diffuses through capillaries into the blood supply. In a reverse fashion, the body will then dispense carbon dioxide as a person exhales. Muscles in the chest cavity, known as the diaphragm, expand and contract to facilitate the breathing process. The diaphragm is the main muscle used for breathing, and requires intercostal muscle, abdominal, and neck muscles.

 

Massage therapy can facilitate efficient breathing. Massage also assists the respiratory system in the following ways:
 

• deepens massage

• improves lung capacity

• relaxes tight, stiff or spastic muscles

• reduce respiration rate

• increasing blood circulation

• increasing pulmonary functioning

• promote expansion and contraction of the diaphragm muscles

• deepens the breathing pattern releasing tension in the chest cavity

• relieves lung congestion

• stimulates blood flow

• lower the respiratory rate