가로막 호흡 방법에 따른 젊은 성인의 가로막 두께, 폐활량 및 호흡 근력에 미치는 효과 비교

Comparative Effects of Diaphragm Breathing Methods on Diaphragm Thickness, Lung Capacity, and Respiratory Strength in Young Adults

Purpose: Diaphragmatic breathing has beneficial effects not only on respiratory diseases but also on chronic low back pain. This study aimed to compare the effects of different diaphragmatic breathing training methods on diaphragm thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength. Methods: This crossover study compared the effects of diaphragm breathing training on diaphragm thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength in 20 participants. The participants were randomly assigned to perform self-diaphragm breathing (SDB), resistive diaphragm breathing (RDB), and abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) diaphragm breathing training in a one-week interval. Then, diaphragm thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength assessments were conducted. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed among the three breathing conditions in diaphragm thickness, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength. Compared with SDB, ADIM breathing resulted in significantly greater improvements in diaphragm thickness, FEV1, maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). In terms of forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow, participants who performed ADIM showed more significant improvement than those who performed RDB. With regard to MEP, participants who performed ADIM showed a statistically significant improvement than those who performed SDB. However, no differences were observed in the maximum inspiratory pressure across the three conditions. Conclusion: ADIM diaphragm breathing effectively activates the diaphragm and respiratory muscles, improved pulmonary function and greater expiratory muscle strength. It can be a beneficial intervention for individuals with respiratory conditions.