Breathing Techniques | Physiotherapy Podcast

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Content

00:00:00 Introduction to breathing in physiotherapy

00:01:17 Steven Zwerink’s accident and recovery journey

00:07:57 Sponsor: Physiotutors membership and learning platform

00:09:04 Dysfunctional breathing, CO2, and nasal vs mouth breathing

00:16:38 Why nasal breathing can feel difficult

00:20:26 Early-life habits, jaw development, and airway problems

00:24:38 Sponsor: Physiotutors courses

00:25:39 Why breathing matters in everyday physio practice

00:31:45 How to assess when breathing is part of the problem

00:36:05 Three practical breathing techniques for therapists

00:42:26 Box breathing dosage and workplace applications

00:46:23 Advanced breath control and prolonged exhale training

00:50:55 Coherent breathing and nervous system regulation

00:50:54 Sponsor: WriteUp practice management software

00:52:30 When breathing is complementary vs primary treatment

00:56:46 Sleep-disordered breathing, recovery, and injury risk

00:59:14 Clinical case: post-COVID recovery with breathing work

01:01:34 Mistakes to avoid when adding breathwork to physio

01:04:20 Key myth, nervous system regulation, and therapist takeaways

01:06:13 Diaphragm, psoas, and overlooked physical links

01:08:11 Where to find Steven and final outro

Guest

Steven Zwerink

Steven is a breathing physiologist and the founder of the Dutch Institute for Breathing Physiology. His work focuses on how breathing influences health, recovery, and performance.His interest in breathing started after a serious cycling accident, where he experienced a long and difficult recovery with symptoms like a concussion and whiplash. Traditional approaches only got him so far, but when he started working with breathing, things began to change. That experience became the foundation of his work today.With a background in elite sports and extensive training in different breathing methods, Steven now works with physiotherapists, healthcare professionals, and athletes. His goal is to make breathing practical, evidence-informed, and clinically applicable.

Description

This episode explores the critical role of breathing in health, recovery, and performance, featuring Steven Zwerink, a breathing physiologist. Discover how dysfunctional breathing impacts the body, the importance of CO2 over oxygen, and practical techniques for physiotherapists to incorporate breathing exercises into their practice.