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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
Making breathing your business: enterprising practices at the margins of orthodoxy
David A Nicholls1, Jo Ann Walton, Kay Price
1AUT University, AUT North Shore Campus, A-11, 90 Akoranga Drive, Northcote 0627, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. david.nicholls@aut.ac.nz
Abstract:
Over the last 30 years there has been a gradual but nonetheless significant shift in the political economy of healthcare in developed countries. The health reforms that have accompanied this shift have had a significant impact upon medicine, nursing and a number of other orthodox health professions, but to date, little work has been done to explore the changing nature of physiotherapy practice. This study draws on Foucault's notion of governmentality to explore the enterprising practices of a new physiotherapy clinic established in Auckland, New Zealand. Drawing on a critical history of respiratory physiotherapy, which had previously been firmly anchored within the public health sector, we show that the actions and practices of the clinic's staff are testing the margins of orthodox physiotherapy practice and exploring the new market possibilities offered by consumer demand for optimal health. The study explores how the physiotherapists at the clinic are problematizing the practices, clinical spaces and clientele associated with orthodox practice, and, most notably, commodifying breathing, to create a space within which it is possible to think about physiotherapy otherwise. This study builds on the instability now surrounding the orthodox health professions and asks if exemplars like that offered in this article provide some meaningful insights into the future for healthcare practice.
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Breathing
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The respiratory system, an essential network for breathing, comprises the conducting and respiratory zones, each playing a crucial role in the overall process of respiration. Let us explore the detailed mechanism of inspiration, or inhalation, which is the first phase of the respiratory cycle.
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During inspiration, air enters our body through the nose or mouth and moves through the conducting zone,...
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Mechanism of Breathing II: Expiration
Expiration, or exhaling, is a complex physiological process that begins as the inspiratory muscles begin to relax. This relaxation triggers a series of events that epitomize the efficiency of the respiratory system.
Mechanism of Expiration:
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
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Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles
The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation.
Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles:
Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...