Abstract

This article is the third in a three-part series on whole-body breathing. The author proposes a process model, in which breath training, muscle relaxation, and lifestyle changes are customized as the therapist explores the patient's response to initial interventions. This process model is useful for many cases in medical practice, where clear and specific causes cannot be identified for symptoms and no clear treatment is known. The article provides a case history of a 38-year-old man who sustained whiplash injuries in a motor vehicle accident and subsequently developed cardiovascular problems (congestive cardiomyopathy). Subsequent cardiac rehabilitation proceeded poorly, but he responded positively when the whole-body breathing approach was added, with improved ejection fraction and improved tolerance for activity. This case study illustrates the process of adjusting interventions to the individual's condition.