| Abstract |
Diaphragmatic breathing has beneficial effects not only on respiratory diseases but also on chronic low back
pain. This study aimed to compare the effects of different diaphragmatic breathing training methods on diaphragm
thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength. Methods: This crossover study compared the effects of
diaphragm breathing training on diaphragm thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength in 20
participants. The participants were randomly assigned to perform self-diaphragm breathing (SDB), resistive diaphragm
breathing (RDB), and abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) diaphragm breathing training in a one-week interval. Then,
diaphragm thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength assessments were conducted. Results:
Statistically significant differences were observed among the three breathing conditions in diaphragm thickness,
pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength. Compared with SDB, ADIM breathing resulted in significantly greater
improvements in diaphragm thickness, FEV1, maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and maximum expiratory pressure
(MEP). In terms of forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow, participants who performed ADIM showed more
significant improvement than those who performed RDB. With regard to MEP, participants who performed ADIM showed
a statistically significant improvement than those who performed SDB. However, no differences were observed in the
maximum inspiratory pressure across the three conditions. Conclusion: ADIM diaphragm breathing effectively activates
the diaphragm and respiratory muscles, improved pulmonary function and greater expiratory muscle strength. It can be
a beneficial intervention for individuals with respiratory conditions. |