Our experience to date has shown that deep breathing in and out during Backpod® use is particularly effective. We have received feedback from users that conscious breathing while lying on the Backpod® has not only improved lung function but has also resulted in asthma attacks being less frequent and less severe.

This doesn't just affect your lungs. Regardless of the health of your lungs, you simply can't take a deep breath if your chest can't fully expand. This is the case when the back rib joints are tight. This is now very common in chronic asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. This fact is very often overlooked by pulmonary specialists who correctly focus on treating the lungs and not the orthopedic problem.

If there is limited rotation in the upper part of the body, it indicates that there is tension in the chest and therefore a limitation. You can test this yourself. Sit up straight on a bench or table. Ask someone to turn your upper body to the left and right. Normally, a rotation of about 90° is possible without any problems, with your shoulders then forming a line with your thighs. If your joints in your back are tight or hardened where the ribs are suspended from your spine, you will not be able to make the rotation that far. You also won't be able to take a deep breath because the locked rib joints won't allow it. Shortness of breath can also be due to a tight chest and is not necessarily a problem in the lungs.

The Backpod is particularly effective in stretching these posterior back joints. Other aids for treating the spine, such as foam rollers or exercise balls do not work here. Due to the long, cylindrical shape of a roller, no targeted pressure can be applied to the blocked rib joint. All balls and rollers are simply too unstable, so you can't release the muscle stiffness. If the aids are too soft, like a rolled towel or tennis ball, not enough pressure can be applied. The small, stable and tapered shape of the Backpod was specifically designed to help stretch tight rib joints again. Our 30 years of experience in the field of manual physiotherapy in New Zealand has shown that, from a scientific point of view, there is no other method that is as effective as the Backpod®.

When a tight chest is stretched, the shortened muscles between the ribs must also be stretched at the same time. For instructions on how to do this, see our 10-minute YouTube video: fixing costochondritis. The twisting stretch shown next is also useful.