Effects of breathing re-education on clinical outcomes in patients with nonspecific chronic neck pain

• Published in: Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 2022-11, Vol.72 (11), p.2278-2282
• Main Authors: Anwar, Sahreen, Arsalan, Syed Asadullah, Ahmad, Ashfaq, Zafar, Hamayun, Gillani, Syed Amir, Hanif, Asif
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Breathing exercises; Care and treatment; Chronic pain; Chronic Pain - therapy; Female; Humans; Methods; Neck; Neck pain; Neck Pain - rehabilitation; Patient outcomes; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Relaxation
• ISSN: 0030-9982
• DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.3583

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of breathing re-education with routine physical therapy. This mixed method study was conducted at the District Headquarter Hospital Faisalabad, Faisalabad from April 2020 to July 2020. Fourteen participants (6men and 8 women) with chronic neck pain were recruited over a 16-week period and were equally divided into breathing re-education and routine physical therapy groups. The mean age of the patients was 38.48±5.92 years. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment, randomisation and retention rates of the participants. Clinical outcomes assessed for full trial were neck pain, cervical ROM, strength and endurance of neck muscles, quality of life and pulmonary functions. Outcomes were measured at baseline, fourth and eighth weeks. All the participants completed all the treatment sessions. No adverse events were reported. The breathing re-education group showed significant improvement in clinical outcomes. The results of this feasibility study provide supporting evidence for a future large-scale trial. Breathing re-education appears to be an effective treatment for chronic neck pain.