by Francisco José Vera-Serrano, Maria Jesus Vinolo-Gil, María Rebollo-Ramos, María-José Estebanez-Pérez, José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal, Juan Antonio Díaz-Mancha Objective To examine the associations of respiratory variables (chest and abdominal expansion, spirometry) with pain, lumbar mobility, and quality of life in nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) using baseline data from the DIAFRAGMA trial. Design Cross-sectional study using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial.
Participants Fifty subjects (22 females [44%], 28 males [56%]; mean age 45.96 years; BMI 26.97 kg/m²) with NSLBP recruited between January and July 2024. Main measures: Axillary, sternal, and abdominal inspiratory expansion; spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1); pain via pressure pain thresholds (PPT), Schober test, FFT; and quality of life via SF-12.
Methods Pearson correlations assessed relationships between respiratory and clinical variables. Multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and BMI.
Significance was set at p Results Abdominal expansion correlated with FVC (r = 0.45; p Conclusions Reduced thoracoabdominal expansion and spirometric performance are associated with greater pain and poorer quality of life in NSLBP, supporting the diaphragm’s role in low back pain.
PLOS ONE (Medicine) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 03 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on Baseline associations between thoracic expansion, respiratory function, and pain in nonspecific low back pain: A cross-sectional analysis from the DIAFRAGMA trial.
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