Breathing Exercises: A Vital Intervention for Women with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and various other symptoms that can significantly impair quality of life. Given the multifaceted nature of FM, finding effective interventions to manage its symptoms is crucial. Recent research highlights the potential benefits of breathing exercises in improving pain thresholds and overall functionality in women with FM. This blog explores a pilot randomized controlled trial that investigated the effects of a 12-week breathing exercises program on pain and daily life impact for FM patients. We’ve previously written about the positive effects a breathing practice can have on ones health specifically as it relates to pain and you can read more about that here.

Understanding the Study

The study, "Breathing Exercises Must Be a Real and Effective Intervention to Consider in Women with Fibromyalgia," aimed to examine the effects of a structured breathing exercises program on pain thresholds at tender points and the impact of FM on daily activities. Thirty-five women with FM were randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group. The exercise group performed breathing exercises for 30 minutes per session, seven times a week, over 12 weeks. The study assessed pain thresholds using a digital pressure algometer and evaluated FM's impact on daily life through the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).

Key Findings

Improved Pain Thresholds: The study found significant improvements in pain thresholds at tender points for participants in the exercise group. Notably, the second rib, occiput, and supraspinatus points showed marked improvement. These gains indicate that breathing exercises can help reduce pain sensitivity in areas commonly affected by FM.

Enhanced Functional Capacity: Participants who engaged in the breathing exercises also demonstrated notable improvements in their ability to perform daily activities. The functional capacity to manage everyday tasks is a critical aspect of quality of life for FM patients, and these findings suggest that breathing exercises can play a significant role in enhancing this capacity.

Reduction in Pain and Fatigue: The exercise group experienced significant reductions in both pain and fatigue levels compared to the control group. Pain and fatigue are two of the most debilitating symptoms of FM, and their reduction through a non-pharmacological intervention like breathing exercises is particularly encouraging.

Predictive Value of Pain Threshold Improvements: The study also highlighted that improvements in pain thresholds at specific tender points (second rib, occiput, supraspinatus) could predict overall improvements in functional capacity, pain, and fatigue. This predictive relationship underscores the importance of targeting these tender points in therapeutic interventions.

Clinical Implications and Assessment Techniques

The findings from this study underscore the importance of incorporating breathing exercises into care for those with fibromyalgia. Simple and effective exercises like deep breathing or following the specific breathing routine outlined in the research can accomplish two things. First, a profound impact on pain and function. Individuals incorporating breathing routines into their life can achieve less stress, less pain, and an increase in their overall function. Second, teaching individuals the power of breath work and how they can incorporate it into their lives is an empowering way of helping individuals in pain take an active role in managing the pain and symptoms, something that is greatly lacking in many current approaches to painful and lifestyle modifying disorders like Fibromyalgia.

If you or someone you know is suffering from Fibromyalgia or a chronic pain disorder I urge you to share this information with them and start taking an active role in their pain management. As always if you have any questions or are seeking a personalized approach to help decrease your pain and start moving, feeling, and healing better feel free to reach out to me at drcoffman@optimizecolumbus.com. Below I outline the breathing exercises with a video showing the exercises as well.

Breathing Exercises Program

The breathing exercises program implemented in the study consisted of specific exercises aimed at strengthening and lengthening the thorax and abdominal muscles. Each session lasted 30 minutes and included five breathing exercises, performed in a circuit form (2 circuits per session). Each exercise was performed for 3 minutes:

Awareness of Breathing: In the supine position, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth with lips half-closed slowly.

Costal Expansion: In the supine position, with arms along the body holding a stick, raise the arms while inhaling and lower the arms while exhaling.

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise 1: In the supine position, overlap hands on the diaphragm located in the abdominal region; inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth with lips half-closed slowly.

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise 2: In the prone position, with a folded towel under the diaphragm located in the abdominal region, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth with lips half-closed slowly.

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise 3: In the supine position, with a weight of 1 kg on the diaphragm located in the abdominal region, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth with lips half-closed slowly.

These exercises were designed to reduce breathing effort, enhance relaxation, and improve the breathing pattern through the reduction of respiratory frequency.

Breath Into Less Pain & Better Function

Breathing exercises offer a real and effective intervention for managing fibromyalgia, particularly in reducing pain at tender points and improving functional capacity, pain, and fatigue. The structured breathing exercises program detailed in this study provides a valuable addition to the therapeutic options available for FM patients. Incorporating such non-pharmacological interventions into clinical practice can significantly enhance the quality of life for those living with FM.

References

Tomas-Carus P, Branco JC, Raimundo A, Parraca JA, Batalha N, Biehl-Printes C. Breathing Exercises Must Be a Real and Effective Intervention to Consider in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Aug;24(8):825-832. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0335. Epub 2018 Apr 13. PMID: 29653069.