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. 2023 Dec;22(4):275-283.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2023.07.001. Epub 2023 Sep 2.

Effect of Adding Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises to Core Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Muscle Activity, Disability, and Sleep Quality in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Control Trial

Sana Masroor  1 , Tarushi Tanwar  1 , Mosab Aldabbas  1 , Iram Iram  1 , Zubia Veqar  1
Affiliations

Effect of Adding Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises to Core Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Muscle Activity, Disability, and Sleep Quality in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Control Trial

Sana Masroor et al. J Chiropr Med. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the effect of adding diaphragmatic breathing exercises (DBEs) to core stabilization exercises (CSEs) for patients with chronic low back pain (CLPB).

Methods: Twenty-two patients with CLPB were randomly allocated to the experimental (DBE + CSE) or control group (CSE only). They were given 12 treatment sessions 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated before and after the 12 sessions. Surface electromyography of transverse abdominis, Oswestry Disability Index, Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and chest expansion were used as outcome measures for pain, muscle activity, disability, and sleep quality.

Results: The outcome measure scores showed statistical significance of (P = .01) in time effect on muscle activity, sleep quality, disability score, pain score, fear-avoidance belief of patients and chest expansion; and group effect on Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire and physical activity parameter (P = .05). An interaction effect (time x group) on muscle activity for right transverse abdominus during tuck in (P = .01) and chest expansion (P = .01) was also found; however, no significant difference was found related to other parameters.

Conclusion: The combination of DBE and CSE interventions compared to CSE alone showed improvement in the measured parameters for patients with CLBP. Incorporating DBE with CSE also improved muscle activation and chest expansion.

Keywords: Breathing Exercises; Exercise; Low Back Pain; Sleep Quality.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Study flowchart. EMG, electromyography; FABQ, Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire; NPRS, Numerical Pain Rating Scale; ODI, Oswestry Disability Index; PSQI, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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