The Effects Of Equal Breathing On Pain Pressure Thresholds (EB-Pain)

The Effects Of Equal Breathing On Pain Pressure Thresholds In Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study

Recent research has found that there is moderate evidence for the use of breathing exercises for treating chronic, non-specific low back pain. Researchers have found that there were significant improvements in pain and quality of life in those suffering with low back pain who completed a breathing program intervention. Researchers also found that healthy individuals had higher pain thresholds and tolerance following deep and slow breathing exercises.

There are numerous formats of breathing interventions, some interventions that have been used with individuals with chronic, non-specific low back pain include: deep breathing, yoga breathing, resisted inspiration, and breathe holding. There is moderate evidence to suggest the use of these interventions for managing chronic low back pain Another common breathing format is Equal-Ratio Breathing. This format requires an individual to inhale and exhale with the same duration while gradually increasing the duration of both. This breathing format can be easier for patients to perform given the simplicity of the equal inhalation to exhalation ratio.

This research is being done because Equal-Ratio Breathing has yet to be studied in individuals with chronic low back pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Chronic Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Equal Breathing

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N3Z5
      • Recruiting
      • Michael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic, Hamilton Health Sciences
      • Contact: Lisa Patterson, B.A.; Phone Number: 74279 905-521-2100; Email: pattersl@hhsc.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged ≥ 18
• Chronic low back pain
• OHIP patient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Peripheral pain
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Chronic regional pain syndrome
• Alpha and Beta blocker medication use
• Patient does not wish to participate
• Completed or participated in a psychoeducational program at the clinic

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Equal Breathing

Other: Equal Breathing; Blood pressure recorded at baseline, immediately pre- and post-trial; Maximum Tolerable Breathing Ratio: Test run to determine the maximum tolerable time for inhalation and exhalation.; PRESSURE TOLERANCE: Pressure algometer device used to determine pain pressure tolerance. It will be applied to the first dorsal interosseous and deltoid, and pain pressure tolerance will be measured and recorded. Pressure will be applied at 1kg per second until the patient indicates that the pressure has become painful. Pain pressure tolerance will be performed 3 times at each anatomical location and an average will be determined for each location.; TRIAL: Participants will begin 5 minutes of Equal Breathing at their maximum tolerable equal breathing ratio that was previously determined. Immediately after 5 minutes of breathing, the pain pressure tolerance will be measured using pressure algometry

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in pain pressure threshold	Measured using the pressure algometer device	Pre-visit and Post-visit - same day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in heart rate	Measure by pulse oximeter	Pre-visit and Post-visit - same day
Difference in blood pressure values	Measure by pulse oximeter	Pre-visit and Post-visit - same day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): February 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Anticipated): February 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 6, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): November 27, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 14, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 12, 2018
• Last Verified: June 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: MGD-004-20171016

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: no plan to share IPD

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No