Medical What caused the sudden loss of breath after a fall?

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The discussion centers on the experience of falling from a height and the resulting temporary cessation of breathing. The individual describes a fall of about 10 feet, leading to a sudden cut-off of air for approximately 10 seconds. The main points of inquiry include whether the windpipe was compressed by the ribcage, if the impact itself caused a temporary stifling of breath, or if the lungs collapsed or deflated, preventing air intake. Participants in the discussion confirm that this phenomenon is commonly referred to as "getting the wind knocked out of you," and suggest that a spasm of the diaphragm may be the underlying cause of this temporary loss of breath.
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Some years ago i fell from a height to the ground (around 10 feet), right on my back and stopped breathing for some 10 seconds. A sudden complete cut off. I am curious what stopped the air. Either the windpipe was squashed by the ribcage, or was temporary stifled from the very impact without having been squashed by anything, or lungs temporarily collapsed or deflated (not sure whether these are the right words to describe it) and blocked the air from filling up? That was a sudden complete cut off.
 
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Yep. You got the wind knocked out of you.

Had it happen to me several times.

Spasm of the diaphragm sounds about right.
 

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