Lower Abdominal Breathing

Question 1

What are the two postures discussed in class for LAB?

Answer 1

Laying on the floor

Standing up straight

Question 2

Describe LAB when laying down.

Answer 2

Lie down on the floor, flat on your back. Place hand or book on the abdomen. Take in a breath and abdomen should rise. Release breath and feel abdomen fall.

Question 3

Describe LAB when standing up straight.

Answer 3

Stand up straight. Place both of your hands on your head with your elbows pointing out. This secures the upper body and prevents movement. Breathe in and feel your abdomen go out; breathe out and feel your abdomen move in.

Question 4

Describe Single Breath Holding.

Answer 4

Get in the appropriate good posture, seated position. Remember to drop & relax your jaw. Take in a deep breath and feel your abdomen move out. HOLD FOR 2 SECONDS. Release the breath and feel your abdomen move in.

Question 5

Describe double hold breathing.

Answer 5

Take in a deep breath and HOLD FOR 2 SECONDS. Release a small puff of air for about half a second (your abdomen should move in slightly as you release air). HOLD FOR 2 MORE SECONDS. Release the rest of your air as your abdomen moves in.

Question 6

Describe the “relaxation and improving breath support” practice.

Answer 6

Sit upright in a comfortable chair without arms and request that he/she lean over from the waist, allowing the arms to hand loosely at the sides of the chair.

While in this position, a family member will have to stand behind them and slowly, gently and passively lift and lower the head. He/She will then manipulate the head to the left and right, as the client remains bent at the waist with arms loosely at the sides of the chair.

Question 7

Describe the prolonged inhalation and exhalation practice.

Answer 7

With a straight posture take a deep breath and exhale as long as you can. Measure the time you inhale and exhale

With increased effort have increments in the duration you could inhale and exhale.

Question 8

Describe quick breathing.

Answer 8

Needs to be done only when you have slow breathing patterns.

Breathe in and out continuously and as quickly as possible for 5 secs. Record the number of complete cycles demonstrated, and repeat the task more times, allowing rest of 15 secs between trials.

Question 9

Describe breathing in speech practices.

Answer 9

Maximum phonation: Take a deep breath and hold out /a/, /i/ and /u/ for as long as you can.
Take a deep breath and transit from /u/ to /o/ and hold it out for as long as you can.

Increase your effort and breathe deep to achieve longer durations.