OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effects of corrective exercises alone versus combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises on thoracic kyphosis, diaphragmatic excursion, thoracic pain, and QoL in postmenopausal kyphotic women.
METHODS: Forty postmenopausal women diagnosed with thoracic kyphosis were randomly divided into two groups. Group A received corrective exercises for 12 weeks (n = 20), while Group B received both diaphragmatic breathing exercises and corrective exercises for the same duration (n = 20). Primary outcome measures were thoracic kyphosis angle and diaphragmatic excursion, while secondary outcome measures were thoracic pain and QoL. Both groups were assessed pre- and post-intervention using a flexible curve ruler for the thoracic kyphosis angle, ultrasonography for the diaphragmatic excursion, the visual analog scale for thoracic pain, and the Arabic version of the QoL Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis for QoL.
RESULTS: Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in all measures post-intervention (p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons post-intervention revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) except for diaphragmatic excursion, where Group B showed significantly greater improvement (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week program of corrective exercises alone or combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises significantly improved kyphosis angle, thoracic pain, and QoL in postmenopausal kyphotic women. The addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises provided further benefits by increasing diaphragmatic excursion to a greater degree compared with corrective exercises alone.
目的:这项随机对照试验旨在比较单纯矫正锻炼与膈呼吸锻炼联合治疗胸椎后凸的效果。膈肌偏移,胸痛,和QoL在绝经后脊柱后凸的妇女。
方法:40例绝经后胸椎后凸的妇女随机分为两组。A组接受了12周的矫正练习(n=20),而B组接受膈肌呼吸练习和矫正练习的时间相同(n=20)。主要结局指标为胸椎后凸角度和膈肌偏移,而次要结局指标是胸痛和QoL。两组均使用柔性曲线尺评估胸椎后凸角度,膈肌偏移的超声检查,胸痛的视觉模拟量表,和阿拉伯版本的QoL问卷的欧洲骨质疏松基金会的QoL。
结果:两组在干预后的所有措施中均显示出明显的组内改善(p<0.05)。干预后组间比较显示,除了膈肌偏移外,差异无统计学意义(p>0.05)。其中B组显示显著更大的改善(p<0.05)。
结论:一项为期12周的单独矫正锻炼或与膈肌呼吸锻炼相结合的计划可显著改善后凸角度,胸痛,和QoL在绝经后脊柱后凸的妇女。与单独的矫正练习相比,增加膈肌呼吸练习可通过在更大程度上增加膈肌偏移来提供进一步的益处。