By Can Breathing help with chronic widespread pain? well we just have to find out read more about it on our latest post. Now you might be raising an eyebrow now asking “Can Breathing really help with chronic widespread pain?” now that’s convenient right?
Chronic widespread pain is something that many people deal with, and few know exactly how to treat it. That’s because it’s often difficult to pinpoint a reason for the widespread pain. Characterized as pain in multiple areas of the body that lasts for at least three months, chronic widespread pain can be a challenge to treat. Researchers are still looking for ways to help bring relief to those who experience it.
June 2019 issue of the journal Frontiers in Psychology
One possible way to treat chronic widespread pain that has emerged is through breathing exercises. The study sheds light on the use of motivational non-directive resonance breathing as a treatment for chronic widespread pain (1).Researchers conducted a randomized controlled study in which they took patients who have chronic widespread pain and assigned them to four different treatment groups. The groups included experimental, sham, and resonance breathing. Those in groups engaged their respective treatments at home, twice a day, for 15 minutes in the morning and evening.
Study participants were given a program on their Smartphone, and they were attached to a respiratory gate device placed around their abdomen. Breathing information was gathered during each of their treatments, which lasted for a two-week period. The participants were instructed to engage in resonance breathing, and to not move or speak during each session.What the researchers found was that non-directive resonance breathing offers an innovated, noninvasive, and effective means for treating chronic widespread pain. Those who engaged in the resonance breathing did have some pain relief, thus brings hope to those who suffer from other types of chronic pain as well. Resonance breathing is something that anyone can do at home, there are no adverse side effects, and it’s free.It is the practice of deliberately slowing breathing down to around six breaths per minute, and focusing on diaphragm breathing.
By Doing this it
- calms the body
- increases vagus nerve activity
- helps to combat anxiety and depression which often go along with chronic widespread pain
Those who want to give resonance breathing a try can set time aside each day to sit quietly and focus on their breathing, controlling and slowing their rate. By focusing the mind on the breath during each session, they gain the benefits that come along with this treatment. People can give it a try on their own, read about it in-depth online, or download a resonance breathing app on their phone to get started.
Sources:
- Frontiers in Psychology. Motivational Non-directive Resonance Breathing as a Treatment for Chronic Widespread Pain. June 2019. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01207/full
