Breathing

Coming Home – thriving in the community with a tracheostomy. On the 25th of September 2011 Colin sustained a spinal cord injury whilst working on his farm. This is his story.

Spinal cord injuries can cause difficulties with breathing (respiration) depending on where the injury occurs in your spinal cord.

The diaphragm and intercostal muscles are the two major muscles involved in breathing.

There are different set of muscles involved in with breathing in and breathing out

In a person with quadriplegia who has paralysed stomach muscles, an abdominal binder can help the diaphragm function efficiently.

The autonomic system has two main components, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

There are several things you can do to look after your respiratory health.