Effects of Breathing Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Neck Disability in Patients With Cervical Spondylosis

A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 72 diagnosed patients with cervical spondylosis at University of Lahore Teaching hospital. The study was completed within 9 months after the approval of synopsis. Patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria were identified by individual physiotherapist and were enrolled for particular study. Informed written consent was be taken by the patients and were randomly allocated into two groups. The total numbers of sessions were 12 (3 sessions per week). The study was single blinded. The assessor was unaware of the treatment given to both groups.

Control group received only routine physical therapy. This includes thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, neck isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions and three times per week.

Experimental group received routine physical therapy along with breathing exercises. This includes thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, neck isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions and three times per week.

Baseline data was collected before first treatment then after 4th, 8th and 12th session.

The outcome measures were neck pain, ROM, neck disability and quality of life and were analyzed by using SPSS 26 and then results and conclusion were drawn.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cervical Spondylosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Routine Physical Therapy; Other: Diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 72
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, 54000
      • University of Lahore Teaching Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed patients with cervical spondylosis
• Both male and female
• Age from 40-60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any deformity of spine
• Any surgery of spine
• Tumor
• Trauma & Fracture
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Respiratory diseases

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Routine Physical Therapy; This group received only routine physical therapy. This includes thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, neck isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions (3 sessions per week)	Other: Routine Physical Therapy; Routine physical therapy exercises were performed in which neck isometrics and neck range of motion exercises were performed
Experimental: Breathing Exercises along with routine physical therapy; This group received routine physical therapy along with breathing exercises. This includes thermotherapy, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, neck isometrics and stretching that includes 12 sessions (3 sessions per week).	Other: Diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing; Breathing exercises were performed. Two breathing techniques were applied to the participants. Diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing were intervened along with routine physical therapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Visual Analogue Scale score	Visual analogue scale was used to assess neck pain. Score ranges from 0-10. 0 shows least pain and 10 shows worst pain	Change from pre-intervention to 4 weeks
Change in Universal Goniometer readings	Universal Goniometer was used to assess cervical range of motion.	Change from pre-intervention to 4 weeks
Change in Neck Disability Index score	Neck Disability Index was used to assess neck disability. Score ranges from 0-50. 0 shows minimum disability and 50 shows maximum disability.	Change from pre-intervention to 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in SF-36 Questionnaire score	SF-36 Questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale on the assumption that each question carries equal weight. The lower the score the more disability. The higher the score the less disability.	Change from pre-intervention to 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Lahore

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 13, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 7, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): September 7, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 20, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 20, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2021
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Spondylosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-UOL-FAHS/770-1/2020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

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