Your Most Powerful Pain Relief Tool? It Might Just Be Your Breath
The Breath-Spine Connection: What the Latest Research Says About Breathing for Neck and Back Pain Relief
Evidence-Based Insights for Chiropractic Patients
Most Chiropractic Clinic is committed to sharing the latest research to help you get the best results from your care — and one of the most exciting recent findings involves something you do around 20,000 times a day: breathing.
When you think about dealing with neck or back pain, breathing might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But a growing body of research suggests that how you breathe can have a real, measurable impact on pain levels, muscle tension, and overall spinal health.
THE NECK PAIN CONNECTION
Research published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine in 2025 showed that a dedicated breathing exercise program led to meaningful improvements in pain and physical function for neck pain sufferers. (1) Participants also demonstrated measurable improvements in their breathing patterns, suggesting a meaningful association between how we breathe and how our neck muscles function. Poor breathing mechanics — such as shallow chest breathing — can overload the accessory muscles of the neck and upper shoulders, impacting chronic tension and pain. Learning to breathe with the diaphragm gives those overworked neck and shoulder muscles a chance to rest, allowing the body to rediscover more natural, pain-free movement. Your Murfreesboro chiropractor knows it takes time and is here to go along that path with you.
BREATHING AND LOW BACK PAIN
Far more than just a breathing muscle, the diaphragm is a critical player in the stability and support of your entire spine. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis by Chen and colleagues in the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation confirmed that breathing exercises can effectively reduce pain intensity and disability in people with chronic non-specific low back pain. (2) When the diaphragm contracts properly, it increases intra-abdominal pressure, which helps steady the lumbar spine — much like a natural internal brace. Patients who practice diaphragmatic and controlled breathing exercises may experience less strain on the structures of the lower back during everyday activities.
BROADER EVIDENCE FOR SPINAL PAIN RELIEF
A wide-ranging 2025 review published in Clinical Rehabilitation pooled evidence from multiple studies to examine how breathing interventions perform across different types of spinal pain. (3) Their findings reinforce breathing techniques as a meaningful adjunct therapy, complementing hands-on care like spinal manipulation and soft tissue therapy. As part of a well-rounded chiropractic care plan, breathing exercises may help patients get more out of their treatment and maintain results longer. Most Chiropractic Clinic wants you to get the most out of your treatment plan!
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
One of the great advantages of breathing exercises is that they require no equipment, no gym membership, and no special setting — just a few minutes and a willingness to practice. Whether you're suffering with a stiff neck from desk work or chronic low back pain, adding guided breathing to your daily routine may intensify the benefits of your chiropractic care. Ask your chiropractor at Most Chiropractic Clinic whether diaphragmatic breathing or other techniques are right for your individual condition.
CONTACT Most Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Kurt Olding on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the importance of understanding the latest in spinal research as well as the benefits of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
