About the Book
Fully updated throughout, Chaitow's Breathing Pattern Disorders, third edition, is a comprehensive guide designed for practitioners to recognise, assess, and address Breathing Pattern Disorders and Dysfunctional Breathing (BPD/DB). Reorganised for clarity, it features dedicated sections on multidisciplinary assessment, evidence-based treatment strategies, and practical self-help resources to restore optimal breathing function.
Series editor Sasha Chaitow reconvenes an international team of experts and new contributors to enhance and expand this bestselling book. Accompanied by 25 instructional videos featuring Leon Chaitow demonstrating key techniques, this book is an essential resource for clinical practice across professions.
Unique in its focus and scope, this edition clarifies BPD/DB terminology, integrates the latest research, and explores the physiological, psychological, structural, and biochemical contributing factors. Guiding the practitioner in a range of clinical settings, it includes practical tips and techniques to support normal functionality.
Restructured content with a robust evidence base, multidisciplinary assessment, and therapeutic protocols
An increased emphasis on whole-person healthcare, self-efficacy support, and interoceptive awareness
A new focus on post-COVID breathing dysfunction
A new section on women’s health
An updated, photocopiable self-help section
Case studies and hands-on clinical protocols
Table of Contents:
Section 1: Understanding Breathing Pattern Disorders and Dysfunctional Breathing
Section summary - Sasha Chaitow
1.1 What are Breathing Pattern Disorders? - Leon Chaitow, Dinah Bradley, Christopher Gilbert. Revised by Rosalba Courtney, Tania Clifton-Smith, Christopher Gilbert, Sasha Chaitow
1.2 The Structure and Function of Breathing - Leon Chaitow, Dinah Bradley, Christopher Gilbert. Revised by Tania Clifton-Smith
1.3 Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation: Developmental Kinesiology, Breathing Stereotypes and postural-locomotion function - Alena Kobesova, Petr Bitnar, Pavel Kolar
1.4 Nasal Influences on Breathing - Jim Bartley
1.5 Patterns of Breathing Dysfunction in Breathing Pattern Disorders - Dinah Bradley, revised by Tania Clifton-Smith.
1.6 Biochemical Aspects of Breathing - Christopher Gilbert, Sasha Chaitow
1.7 Nutritional, Hormonal, and Autonomic Influences on Breathing - Sasha Chaitow, Leon Chaitow
1.8 The Psychophysiology of Breathing - Christopher Gilbert
Section 2: Assessing Breathing Pattern Disorders and Dysfunctional Breathing
Section summary - Sasha Chaitow
2.1 Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation: Assessment Methods - Alena Kobesova, Petr Bitnar, Pavel Kolar
2.2 Osteopathic assessment of structural changes in Breathing Pattern Disorders - Leon Chaitow. Revised by Sasha Chaitow
2.3 Physiotherapy assessment approaches - Dinah Bradley. Revised by Tania Clifton-Smith
2.4 Psychological assessment approaches - Christopher Gilbert
2.5 Questionnaires and Manual Methods for assessing breathing dysfunction - Rosalba Courtney
2.6 Capnography assessment - Laurie McLaughlin
Section 3: Treatment Approaches in Breathing Pattern Disorders and Dysfunctional Breathing
Section summary - Sasha Chaitow
3.1 Indirect approaches to breathing regulation - Jan van Dixhoorn
3.2 Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation: Treatment Methods - Alena Kobesova, Petr Bitnar, Pavel Kolar
3.3 Osteopathic treatment of thoracic and respiratory dysfunction - Leon Chaitow. Revised by Rosalba Courtney.
3.4 Physiotherapy in rehabilitation of Breathing Pattern Disorders - Dinah Bradley. Revised by Tania Clifton-Smith.
3.5 Psychological approaches to dysfunctional breathing - Christopher Gilbert
3.6 Speech and Singing - Eva Au Zveglic
3.7 Breathing Pattern Disorders and the Athlete - Tania Clifton-Smith
3.8 Capnography in the Treatment of Breathing Pattern Disorders - Laurie McLaughlin
Section 4: Additional Perspectives on Breathing Dysfunctions
Section summary - Sasha Chaitow
4.1 Breathing patterns in chronic pain disorders: A somatocognitive approach - Gro K. Haugstad, Tor S. Haugstad. Revised by Sasha Chaitow
4.2 Integrative Breathing Therapy - Rosalba Courtney
4.3 How Rest and Leverage Ease Breathing - John Hannon
4.4 Pilates in the rehabilitation of breathing disorders - Warrick McNeill, Suzanne Scott. Revised by Sasha Chaitow.
4.5 Tai Chi, Qigong, and Breathing - Aileen Chan
4.6 Yoga in Breathing Pattern Disorders and Dysfunctional Breathing - Sakshee Jain, Prem Venkatasan, Mohanakrishnan Jagadevan
Section 5: Self-care
5. Self-help approaches: Photocopiable resources - Leon Chaitow, Tania Clifton-Smith, Rosalba Courtney, Christopher Gilbert
Review :
Reviews of the previous edition:
"...this far-reaching book covers everything one would wish to learn about breathing pattern disorders - I feel it is an essential source of reference and information to all health professionals working in this area...I would urge everyone interested in the subject to place an order..." --Anne Pitman MCSP SRP, Manual Therapy, October 2002
“The whole book is well illustrated and referenced, provides practical case examples and sensible cautions….I cannot think of anything they have left out.” --Ashley Conway. Journal of Holistic Healthcare: Volume 4 Issue 4 November 2007
"Patients with common psychological dysfunction including anxiety, low mood and depression, sleep disorder, chronic low energy syndromes etc., all can respond well when the breath cycle is identified and adapted by cognitive processes. This text is the most comprehensive of its kind and the clinical application of the content so broadly based it deserves a wide readership."--Donald Scott, Osteopath, UK
"This is an extremely well-detailed book and I love how it explores all areas of breathing i.e. the psychological, emotional and physical elements of the process." --Eva Au Zveglic, Specialised Respiratory Physiotherapist, UK
"This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in breathing from whatever discipline they belong to." --Anne Pitman, Physiotherapy, Devonshire Place, London, UK
"As the current title suggests, I feel the book appropriately covers multidisciplinary management strategies of BPD which is an extremely important aim given that the disorder is so complex with multiple aetiologies and no single assessment or treatment tool." --Kate Bazin. Physiotherapist, UK
"Breathing is an overlooked part of human function. We need more information about breathing as it is such an important prerequisite for the normal functioning of so many other body systems." --Ken Crenshaw, Head Athletic Trainer of the Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Team, USA
"As clinical practitioners we must always be aware of causation, maintaining and exacerbating factors. Abnormal breathing has the ability to be all three of these." --T. Hewetson, Lecturer in Osteopathy, Oxford, UK
"This is not a perfect all-encompassing textbook.That was not its purpose. As a catalyst for stimulating further exploration and for use as a reference in clinical work of wide-ranging paradigms it succeeds admirably." --David Propert, British School of Osteopathy, UK, International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (August 2014)
