Improved respiratory characteristics in non-specific low back pain: Comparison of Feldenkrais method versus routine physiotherapy

PURPOSE: Abnormal breathing patterns, decrease in respiratory muscle strength and endurance are some of the alterations, which are observed in non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP). The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the Feldenkrais method (FM) on respiratory muscle strength, Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV), Total Faulty Breathing Scale (TFBS), Cloth Tape Measure (CTM) and core stability among NS-LBP participants. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a rehabilitation clinic and randomized either to experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). For the EG (FM and routine physiotherapy), and for the CG routine physiotherapy alone were carried out three days per week over a period of 8 weeks. Outcome measures including Respiratory Muscle Strength, MVV, TFBS, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), CTM, and Pressure biofeedback device (PBU) were evaluated at baseline and 8 weeks. RESULTS: Forty participants were assigned to an EG (n = 20) and CG (n = 20) based on the study criteria. There was a significant increase in inspiratory muscle strength (MIP) (p = 0.004) for the EG, but no significant change in the CG (p = 0.455). There was also a significant increase in the expiratory muscle strength (MEP) for the EG (p = 0.001), but no changes in the CG (p = 0.574). In addition, decrease in pain, increase in xiphoid process chest expansion and improvement in core stability were observed in EG and improvement in MVV was observed in CG. CONCLUSIONS: FM is a potential training program that can improve respiratory variables among NS-LBP.