17/10/2026
💚 One of Lou’s favourite things about the body…
Meet the diaphragm, or, as Lou likes to think of it, one of the body’s brilliant pumps!
Most of us know the diaphragm for its role in breathing, but that’s only part of what makes it so fascinating.
As it moves up and down with each breath, it creates changes in pressure through the chest and abdomen. That means it has connections with circulation and lymphatic drainage, digestion, pelvic floor function and even how we relax.
And this is where Lou gets particularly excited about it… 😂
The diaphragm and pelvic floor are designed to work together. As we breathe in, the diaphragm descends and the pelvic floor responds; as we breathe out, they move back up again. That coordination is one reason breathing is often one of the first things Lou goes through with patients when introducing pelvic floor exercises.
Then there’s the vagus nerve, which travels from the brain into the body and passes through the diaphragm. Slow, relaxed diaphragmatic breathing can also help encourage the parasympathetic, or “rest and digest”, side of our nervous system. 🌿
So this seemingly simple sheet of muscle has its fingers in an incredible number of pies…
Breathing. Pressure. Movement. Drainage. Digestion. Pelvic floor. Relaxation.
No wonder it earns a place on Lou’s list of favourite things about the human body. 💚
And yes… she really does have a list. 😂