Marcello Chiapponi, Physiotherapist
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SHORT BREATHING AND BACK STIFFNESS:
Two symptoms that seem different, but are the same problem.
There’s something many people have in common, and almost no one connects the dots.
On the one hand: the feeling of not being able to breathe deeply, as if the chest were constricted.
On the other: a deep and persistent stiffness in the lower back that doesn’t go away, no matter what you do.
Two discomforts that seemingly have nothing in common.
In reality, they have the same origin: a central muscle.
That muscle is the diaphragm, the large dome that separates the thorax from the abdomen and allows us to breathe.
Every time you inhale, the diaphragm descends, the ribs expand, and the lungs fill.
Every time you exhale, the diaphragm rises, and everything relaxes.
This happens about 20,000 times a day.
The problem is that the diaphragm is the most “emotional” muscle we have: every moment of tension, anxiety, or stress results in a small contraction that never fully completes.
Over time, the diaphragm becomes progressively stiffer and more contracted.
And when it’s stiff, it stops functioning properly in both directions.
When it rises, it can no longer expand the chest as it should.
The ribs remain “closed,” breathing becomes shallow, and you experience the sensation of not being able to breathe completely.
As it descends, it exerts constant tension on the lumbar vertebrae, since that’s where it attaches.
And where the diaphragm ends, the psoas, the large muscle of the lumbar spine, begins: both are connected by the same fascia, and when one tenses, the other follows suit.
Contracted diaphragm → tense psoas → discs under pressure → lumbar spine always tense.
In short, the diaphragm is like the central knot of a net: if you pull on it, everything above and below it is deformed.
That’s why these two sensations always go hand in hand: they aren’t two separate problems, but a single problem manifesting in two different places.
And that’s why treating them separately doesn’t work.
You can do all the breathing exercises you want, but if you don’t also work on your lumbar spine, the diaphragm will remain under tension from below.
You can do all the back exercises you want, but if the diaphragm keeps pulling from above, your lumbar spine will never relax. The real breakthrough comes when you work on both fronts: you retrain your diaphragm to move freely and reduce tension in the surrounding muscle chain.
When this happens, your breathing opens up and you feel relief in your back.
Often, it happens simultaneously because it’s always been the same problem.
If you want a complete workout that truly revitalizes your lower back and pelvis, you can download my lessons and my manual, “Unlocking and Strengthening the Lower Back,” for FREE.
Link here: https://bit.ly/4l7zump
Medicina Tradicional China Amigos de la Acupuntura
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Organs (Zang-Fu): Zang-Fu is a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), referring to the internal organs and their functions in the body. The term is divided into two categories: Zang (yin organs) and Fu (yang organs). Each organ is associated with specific physiological functions, emotional aspects, and interactions with other organs. Together, the Zang Fu organs create a dynamic system that maintains the body’s balance, health, and well-being.
The Zang Organs (Yin Organs):
The Zang organs are considered solid and are responsible for producing, storing, and regulating the body’s vital substances, such as Qi, Blood, Fluids, and Essence. The five Zang organs include:
Heart (Xin): Governs the Blood and houses the Shen (mind/spirit). It controls mental activities, emotions, and consciousness.
Liver (Gan): Stores blood and ensures the smooth flow of Qi. It regulates emotions, and its balanced function promotes clear decision-making and emotional flexibility.
Spleen (Pi): Regulates the transformation and transport of food and fluids into Qi and Blood. It promotes digestion and the production of Qi and Blood, contributing to muscle tone and mental clarity.
Lung (Fei): Regulates Qi and respiration. It regulates the skin and immune function, and its proper functioning contributes to the body’s defense against external pathogens.
Kidney (Shen): Stores Essence (Jing) and regulates reproduction, growth, and aging. It is also responsible for water metabolism and the regulation of bones and bone marrow.
The Fu Organs (Yang Organs):
The Fu organs are hollow and are primarily responsible for the transformation and transport of food, waste, and fluids. They are closely linked to the Zang organs, but their function focuses more on processes. The six Fu organs are:
Stomach (Wei): Responsible for receiving and digesting food. It is known as the “Sea of Food and Fluids” and transforms nutrients for further processing.
Small Intestine (Xiao Chang): Separates clear from turbid matter, that is, it absorbs nutrients and sends waste downwards.
Large Intestine (Da Chang): Absorbs water and eliminates waste.
Gallbladder (Dan): Stores and excretes bile, which facilitates digestion. It also influences decision-making and courage.
Urinary Bladder (Pang Guang): Stores and excretes urine.
Triple Burner (San Jiao): regulates the water channels and is not a physical organ, but a system that coordinates the circulation of Qi and metabolism throughout the upper, middle, and lower parts of the body.
(Source: Yo San University)