A computer generated illustration showing a back view of a person. The spine is highlighted.

This interesting article, written by osteopath Leon Chaitow, reviews ‘The Value of Breathing Retraining for Better Posture, Balance & Less Pain and Dyskinesis.’

It talks about how problems arising from poor posture, such as back pain for instance, can come about as a result of faulty breathing mechanics.

Chaitow refers to the study, ‘Inspiratory Muscle Training Affects Proprioceptive Use and Low Back Pain’ which supports evidence that breathing training can be successful in rehabilitating function as well as reducing a variety of symptoms.

Participants in the study completed an Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) program using the POWERbreathe Medic over a period of 8 weeks, “known as an effective training duration”.

The study concluded:

“After 8 wks of high IMT, individuals with LBP (low back pain) showed an increased reliance on back proprioceptive signals during postural control and improved inspiratory muscle strength and severity of LBP, not seen after low IMT. Hence, IMT may facilitate the proprioceptive involvement of the trunk in postural control in individuals with LBP and thus might be a useful rehabilitation tool for these patients.”