Effects of Combined Ciaphragmatic Breathing and Trunk Stabilization in Chronic Low Back Pain

The Effects of Combined Diaphragmatic Breathing and Trunk Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Function and Muscle Activity in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combined diaphragmatic breathing and trunk stabilization exercises on pain, function, and muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain, and to compare its clinical effectiveness with trunk stabilization exercise alone.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Low Back Pain; Breathing Exercise; Core Stability
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: trunk stabilization exercise; Behavioral: diaphragmatic breathing exercise

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

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• South Korea
  • Seoul, South Korea
    • Private exercise facility

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with low back pain lasting at least 3 months (12 weeks)
• Individuals with a pain intensity of 3 or higher on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
• Individuals who are physically capable of performing trunk stabilization and diaphragmatic breathing exercises

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders
• Pregnant individuals
• Individuals with fractures or deformities of the spine or related areas
• Individuals with sensory deficits
• Individuals who engaged in activities that could affect the study results (e.g., medication use, alcohol consumption, or excessive exercise) within 24 hours prior to participation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: The combined diaphragmatic breathing and trunk stabilization exercise group; The combined diaphragmatic breathing and trunk stabilization exercise group performed trunk stabilization exercises consisting of dead bug, bridge, side plank, and bird dog, with additional diaphragmatic breathing exercise.	Behavioral: trunk stabilization exercise; Trunk stabilization exercises consisting of dead bug, bridge, side plank, and bird dog were performed for 10 repetitions in 3 sets, while the side plank was performed for 5 repetitions with a 10-second hold for 3 sets. Rest intervals between sets were set at 1 minute.; Behavioral: diaphragmatic breathing exercise; diaphragmatic breathing exercise was performed in a crook-lying position with one hand placed on the sternum and the other on the abdomen. Participants were instructed to inhale through the nose for 5 seconds, allowing lateral expansion of the rib cage, and exhale through pursed lips for 10 seconds while minimizing chest movement. The breathing exercise was performed for 10 repetitions in 3 sets with 1-minute rest between sets.
Active Comparator: The trunk stabilization exercise group; The trunk stabilization exercise group performed trunk stabilization exercises consisting of dead bug, bridge, side plank, and bird dog	Behavioral: trunk stabilization exercise; Trunk stabilization exercises consisting of dead bug, bridge, side plank, and bird dog were performed for 10 repetitions in 3 sets, while the side plank was performed for 5 repetitions with a 10-second hold for 3 sets. Rest intervals between sets were set at 1 minute.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
pain intensity	Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), a 0-10 cm scale where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.	Baseline and Week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional disability	Functional disability was assessed using the Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index (KODI). The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater disability. Disability levels are interpreted as follows: 0-20 (minimal disability), 21-40 (moderate disability), 41-60 (severe disability), 61-80 (crippled), and 81-100 (bed-bound or exaggerating symptoms).	Baseline and Week 4

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle activity	Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae, expressed as %MVIC.	Baseline and Week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: lee kyoungju

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 23, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 23, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): April 8, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: SYU 2024-11-004-007

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to ethical and privacy considerations.

Drug and device information, study documents

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