New Research Links Breathing Techniques and Neck Pain Reduction
If you're experiencing neck pain, you're familiar with how it limits your movement and disrupts everyday tasks. At Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers, we address the mechanical causes of neck pain via chiropractic treatment, and new studies demonstrate that breathing exercises can serve as a valuable complement to hands-on care.
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
A 2025 study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine reviewed multiple clinical trials to assess whether breathing exercises effectively reduce neck pain. The study found that breathing exercises can help lower pain intensity and boost function in patients with neck pain. (1) While the mechanisms aren't completely understood, researchers believe these exercises may help by reducing muscle tension and promoting better posture awareness.
A separate study examined patients with forward head posture—increasingly prevalent due to smartphone and computer use. The findings suggested that rehabilitation programs that include breathing techniques may help reduce chronic neck pain in these individuals. (2) Forward head posture places additional strain on neck structures, and addressing breathing patterns may help offset some of these effects.
INTEGRATING MULTIPLE TREATMENT APPROACHES
Chiropractic care has established evidence for treating various neck conditions. For example, research has documented successful treatment of cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy via flexion distraction decompression manipulation. (3) (At Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers we often refer to it as Cox® Technic!) Breathing exercises don't replace these manual therapy techniques but may complement them by addressing muscle tension and movement patterns between visits.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR CARE
The evidence suggests that adding breathing exercises to your care plan carries minimal risk. They're simple to learn and can be performed at home without special equipment. However, it's important to have realistic expectations—breathing exercises are one component of care, not a cure-all approach.
If you are interested in incorporating breathing exercises into your chiropractic treatment plan, we can discuss whether this approach makes sense for your specific condition and show you proper techniques during your next visit.
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