Respiratory System Disorders and Therapy From a New - Louis Bolk ...

Muscle Ache
The increased muscle tone leads to an accumulation of lactic acid that makes the muscles
painful.
The blood circulation in the muscles is such that carbon dioxide, which is formed in the
working muscle, can be removed and breathed out through the lungs. Normally, blood
supply and production of carbon dioxide by muscle contraction are in a healthy balance.
In the hypertonic muscle, the decreased circulation may not be able to remove the carbon
dioxide fast enough, so that lactic acid is formed instead of carbon dioxide, which is
accompanied by the experience of muscle pain. Pain is an increase of conscious awareness
in places of in the body, where we would normally not be aware.
The lactic acid that is present causes an irritation in the musculature that increases the
awareness and puts further stress on the impaired breathing process.
Stiffening of Movement
The patient who is short of breath becomes increasingly more immobilized. This is most
pronounced, of course, during an asthma attack, but when the patient has chronic
shortness of breath it is also present during normal activities. The action-radius of such a
person can decrease considerably and physical movements cannot be carried out with the
same intensity or for a prolonged period of time.
During forced inspiration, the negative pressure in the lungs and the poor passage of air
through the upper airways cause retraction of the musculature between the ribs and in the
neck. The retractions make the ribs more visible. This contributes to the reduced mobility
of the skeletal part of the thorax.
Normally, our movements help us to relax and bring a balance to parts of the body that
are tense. When our body has become tense from working at the computer, for instance,
getting up and walking around every now and then relieve this. With asthma, normal
movements are so tensed up that relaxation of the muscles does not take place sufficiently
(see fig.2.4.).