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. While chiropractic care at Most Chiropractic Clinic addresses the structural components of neck pain, new research suggests that breathing exercises may offer additional benefits as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
Researchers performed a comprehensive 2025 analysis in the Journal of Clinical Medicine to evaluate how breathing exercises impact neck pain outcomes. The study found that breathing exercises can help lower pain intensity and boost function in patients with neck pain. (1) While the mechanisms are not fully understood, researchers believe these exercises may assist by reducing muscle tension and pushing better posture awareness.
A separate study examined patients with forward head posture—increasingly common due to smartphone and computer use. The findings suggested that rehabilitation programs that incorporate 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 treatment has a published track record of effectively addressing different types of neck problems. For example, research has reported successful treatment of cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy via flexion distraction decompression manipulation. (3) (At Most Chiropractic Clinic we often refer to it as Cox® Technic!) Breathing exercises do not 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 breathing exercises offer a safe complement to neck pain treatment. They're simple to learn and can be done at home without special equipment. However, it's quite good to have realistic expectations—breathing exercises are one component of care, not a independent fix.
If you're curious about 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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