The effects of forced breathing exercise on the lumbar stabilization in chronic low back pain patients

[Purpose] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of forced breathing exercise on the trunk functions of chronic low back pain patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into groups of respiratory effort and trunk stabilization exercises. The exercises were performed for 45 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Spinal stabilization was measured as the compensation of thesagittal angle joint in relation to the lumbar external load. [Results] After the intervention, the forced breathing and stabilization exercise groups showed a significant difference in lumbar spine stabilization between the first and second stress tests and the control group also showed a significant difference after the intervention. The M1 and M2 tests of lumbar spine stabilization revealed no significant differences between the groups. [Conclusion] The results of this research demonstrate that forced breathing exercise therapy is effective at improving the trunk stability and daily living activities of chronic low back pain patients.