Effects of deep breathing on internal oblique and multifidus muscle activity in three sitting postures.
Min-Joo Ko, Eun-Joo Jung, Moon-Hwan Kim and 1 others
PMID 29706695WHAT IT FOUND
Deep breathing increased external oblique, internal oblique, and multifidus activity.
Lumbo-pelvic upright sitting also increased internal oblique and multifidus activity compared with thoracic upright sitting. The study measured muscle activity, not pain or function.
Key findings
01Deep breathing produced a significant main effect on external oblique, internal oblique, and multifidus activity.
02Lumbo-pelvic upright sitting increased internal oblique and multifidus activity compared with thoracic upright sitting, and increased multifidus activity compared with slumped sitting.
03Breathing and posture did not interact significantly for external oblique, internal oblique, or multifidus activity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 16 healthy women were studied, so the results may not apply to men, older adults, or people with other health conditions. None of the participants had a history of low back pain, so the study cannot show what happens in people with back pain. The study measured muscle activity only; it did not measure pain, function, or long-term outcomes. Lumbar lordosis was not quantified, so the exact spinal posture differences are not known. The deep breathing was performed with almost maximal effort, so it may not be practical for all patients.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that deep breathing or lumbo-pelvic upright sitting treats or prevents low back pain. The study measured muscle activity in healthy women and did not report pain or function outcomes.