• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effects of crocodile breathing exercise on pain, muscle tone, and muscle stiffness of non-specific low back pain patients. METHODS: The subjects were 37 patients with nonspecific low back pain. The patients were divided into two groups. The experimental group (EG) performed crocodile breathing exercise and the control group (CG) performed chest expansion breathing exercise. The intervention was conducted for 10 minutes every day for a total of eight weeks. Pain was measured using a VAS. Muscle tone and stiffness were measured using Myoton PRO. Two points were measured for muscle tone and muscle stiffness. They were measured at 30mm from the spinous process of the L1 and T10 vertebra. RESULTS: Pain, muscle tone and muscle stiffness at the T10 level showed a significant decrease in both EG and CG. Muscle tone and muscle stiffness in the L1 level area decreased significantly in the experimental group but the control group did not show any difference. The only statistically significant difference was observed in the L1 muscle tone between the pre and post intervention values. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Crocodile breathing is a good method for managing pain, muscle tone, and muscle stiffness in non-specific low back pain patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.321-327
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the crocodile breathing exercise on the muscle activity of the erector spinae muscle in patients with low back pain. Methods: The study subjects included 36 patients with low back pain. The patients were divided equally into the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). The EG performed the crocodile breathing exercise, and the CG performed a chest expansion breathing exercise. The intervention was conducted for 10 minutes each day for a total of eight weeks. Measurements of muscle activity were conducted using an MP150 system. An electrode was attached 2 cm to the side of the spinous process at the L4-L5 level. The muscle activity value used was %MVIC, and the statistical significance was 0.05. The paired t-test was the statistical method used to determine the pre- and post-average value of each breathing exercise, while the independent t-test was used to assess the delta value of muscle activity in the pre-post test. Results: Inspiration muscle activity showed a significant increase in both the EG and the CG, while expiration muscle activity decreased significantly in both groups. The delta value of muscle activity showed a significant difference in inspiration (p<0.05), but for expiration, there was no significant difference in muscle activity (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that crocodile breathing is a good method for improving muscle activity in patients with low back pain.