Diaphragmatic Breathing Training in Chronic Spinal Pain

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding breathing training to an exercise program can improve pain, mood, and thinking skills in adults with chronic spinal pain.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does adding breathing training lower pain and its impact on daily life?
* Does it improve symptoms of anxiety and depression?
* Does it improve thinking skills, such as attention and mental flexibility?

Researchers will compare three groups to see if adding breathing training provides additional benefits:

* a group that performs exercise only
* a group that performs exercise combined with breathing training
* a group that receives general advice only

Participants will:

* take part in a 12-week program
* attend one supervised session each week
* complete two home-based (unsupervised) exercise sessions each week (about 30 minutes each)

Participants in the combined group will also:

* learn breathing techniques during supervised sessions using biofeedback (a method that provides real-time feedback on breathing patterns)
* practice breathing exercises at home four times per week (about 10 minutes each) without biofeedback support

Conditions

• Chronic Non-specific Low-Back Pain
• Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Structured Exercise program

A structured exercise program targeting spinal mobility, muscular strengthening, postural control, flexibility, and neuromuscular coordination. Exercises were performed in seated and standing positions and included multi-planar functional movements, stretching, and mobilization of joints and neural tissue. The program was delivered over 12 weeks with one supervised session per week and additional unsupervised home-based sessions.

BEHAVIORAL

Diaphragmatic Breathing Training

A biofeedback-assisted breathing intervention involving slow, controlled diaphragmatic breathing with emphasis on nasal inhalation and prolonged exhalation. Breathing was guided by visual pacing to regulate rhythm and promote a target breathing rate. Training was delivered during supervised sessions and practiced independently at home throughout the intervention period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Crete (School of Medicine)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University Hospital of Heraklion (Department of Psychiatry)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Democritus University of Thrace

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anastasia Gr Beneka, PhD · Democritus University of Thrace

• Panagiotis G. Simos, PhD · University of Crete, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

72 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-10-25

Primary Completion

2025-10-30

Completion

2025-11-30

Countries

• Greece

Study Locations