Add Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises to Treat Chronic LBP

04/23/25 • 10 min

Suffering from persistent low back pain? This article from Dynamic Chiropractic highlights a promising addition to traditional core stabilization exercises: diaphragmatic breathing. With a staggering 82% of people experiencing back pain and 10% developing chronic issues, finding effective management strategies is crucial. The article explains how the core trunk musculature, including the diaphragm, plays a vital role in lumbar spine stability. Research indicates that the diaphragm is often fatigued in individuals with recurrent LBP, compromising spinal support. A spotlighted study demonstrated that incorporating specific diaphragmatic breathing exercises alongside core stabilization exercises led to significant improvements in pain levels, muscle activation, disability, sleep quality, and chest expansion in chronic LBP patients. These exercises, focusing on belly breathing while keeping the chest still, help reduce stress, improve breathing mechanics, and enhance core stability. By strengthening the diaphragm and its connection to the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, this simple technique can be a valuable and safe addition to chiropractic care for managing chronic low back pain.

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Transforming Chiropractic Care in Latin America: A Global Call for Support

Chiropractic care in Latin America has experienced remarkable growth over the past 25 years, expanding from virtually no established schools or practitioners to 10 legitimate schools and significant numbers of chiropractors in countries like Brazil and Mexico. This growth signals increasing demand and trust in the profession. However, this rapid expansion has brought challenges, notably a lack of standardized regulation and accreditation which has allowed unqualified individuals and institutions to operate, potentially harming patients and the profession's reputation. Adding to the concern, physical therapy schools in Brazil have begun offering chiropractic as a supplementary procedure, setting a troubling precedent.

To address these critical issues, the Latin American Federation of Chiropractic (FLAQ) has spearheaded the development of the Council on Chiropractic Education - Latin America (CCE-LA). This council aims to establish educational standards across the region, ensuring graduates meet international levels of excellence. Achieving this requires financial support, and the international chiropractic community is being called upon to contribute to the urgent need for $40,000 to launch CCE-LA's accreditation process. Two anonymous donors are matching contributions up to $10,000, doubling the impact of donations. Supporting this initiative is crucial for safeguarding the future of chiropractic education, improving patient care, and protecting the profession's integrity in Latin America and globally.

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Smarter Than Static Stretching: Prolonged Isometric Contractions

Forget everything you thought you knew about stretching injured or aging tendons! This article reveals that for conditions like Achilles tendinopathy, the real issue isn't tightness, but often an overly flexible or "compliant" tendon due to microscopic tears or age. This forces the calf muscles to operate in a shortened, weaker position. Aggressively stretching such a tendon would only worsen this problem.

Instead, research strongly supports using heavy-resistance, prolonged isometric contractions as a powerful way to actually tighten injured and aging tendons. This method can significantly increase tendon stiffness, allowing muscles to work more effectively and improve force output. Studies show remarkable results like increased Achilles tendon stiffness, improved running economy, and immediate, significant pain reduction in painful tendinopathy. These safe and effective exercises empower patients, decrease reliance on pain medication, and underscore that "Exercise is medicine".