Breathing retraining with chest wall mobilization improves respiratory reserve and decreases hyperactivity of accessory breathing muscles during respiratory excursions: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

© 2020, Institute of Machine Design and Operation. All rights reserved. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of breathing retraining with chest wall mobilization on the onset of accessory breathing muscle recruitment and respiratory reserve in individuals with chronic neck pain. Methods: Thirty-two participants with non-specific chronic neck pain were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups where the intervention group received 30 minutes of breathing retraining with chest wall mobilization and the control group was assigned to rest for 30 minutes. Electromyography (EMG) of upper trapezius (UT), scalene (SC), and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles were recorded during respiratory excursions by cycling for 12 minutes. Measurement of maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), chest expansion, and pain intensity were taken during normal breathing. The immediate effects within each group and between two groups were analyze. Results: Significant improvements in respiratory reserve were observed in the intervention group compare to control group through prolong EMG onset of accessory breathing muscles, increase of MVV and chest expansion, decrease in pain intensity. Conclusions: This suggests that breathing patterns and chest expansion should be considered within the physical assessment of breathing retraining, and that chest wall mobilization offers clinically important improvements in patients with chronic neck pain.