They say shallow breathers don’t use diaphragm. How is this even possible? Or even shallow breathers have to use diaphragm to certain degree?

Question

I’m trying to understand deep breathing (Diaphragmatic breathing)
And is it even possible to breathe without diaphragm? Or even shallow breathers use diaphragm? Just not efficient as deep breathers?
And is it possible to strengthen diaphragm like other muscles?

In: Biology

Answer 1

It is possible to breath without using the diaphragm – using the intercostal muscles (the ones between the ribs)

These muscles make your lungs expand (or contract) outwards, rather than downwards which happens with the diaphragm.

although commonly used to mean larger or smaller breaths, “deep” and “shallow” breathing in this sense does not refer to the amount of air drawn in – instead it refers to where in the body the breathing activity takes place – for diaphragmatic breathing, the expansion of the lungs happens downwards – “deep” in the chest, whereas intercostal breathing takes place higher up (or “shallower”) – the amount of air drawn using either method varies

(the diaphragm also provides utility in core strengthening, so might also be prioritised in weight-lifters and so on)