AN OBJECTIFICATION OF THE RELAXING MASSAGE EFFECTS ON PULMONARY RESPIRATION

Pulmonary respiration, as a main stage in performing the breathing act, being very important in ensuring an optimal functioning of the whole body, must be permanently maintained within functional parameters, in healthy people, and especially in the persons who are suffering, or have suffered from respiratory conditions. Among the methods and means used by the physical therapy to rehabilitate, maintain, and/or improve the functionality of the respiratory system, is the massage. Aim. This study aimed to emphasize how much the classical relaxing massage can contribute to influencing in a positive manner the pulmonary respiration, establishing the effects it has on the respiratory rate, and on the respiratory amplitude and duration of the breaths, objectifying them through the recordings made using the BIOPAC computer system. The results have proven the fact that in the case of applying the relaxing massage on the back, as in the case of applying it on the anterior thorax, there is a drop in the duration of the inhalation, and a decrease of the respiratory rate, as well as an increase in the duration of the exhalation and the respiratory cycle. Conclusions. Objectifying these effects can constitute a solid scientific basis for justifying the use of the relaxing massage on healthy persons and/or with different respiratory conditions, according to their needs.