The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management
Breathing is a fundamental physiological process essential for cellular respiration and energy production. Beyond its physiological necessity, controlled breathing techniques such as yogic breathing etc. pranayama, have been practiced for centuries due to their perceived spiritual and health benefi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Quality in Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/57777 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832545079561027584 |
|---|---|
| author | Maria Wydro Magdalena Grotowska Martyna Łukasiewicz Aleksandra Strawińska |
| author_facet | Maria Wydro Magdalena Grotowska Martyna Łukasiewicz Aleksandra Strawińska |
| author_sort | Maria Wydro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Breathing is a fundamental physiological process essential for cellular respiration and energy production. Beyond its physiological necessity, controlled breathing techniques such as yogic breathing etc. pranayama, have been practiced for centuries due to their perceived spiritual and health benefits, including stress reduction and pain management. Recent studies have explored the physiological effects of deep slow breathing (DSB), particularly its impact on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and pain perception. Evidence suggests that breathing at a low frequency, such as 6 h per minute (bpm), enhances heart rate variability (HRV), promotes parasympathetic activity, and reduces stress and pain levels.
This review examines the mechanisms underlying these effects, highlighting the role of the vagus nerve in regulating relaxation and reducing inflammation. Empirical studies demonstrate that DSB positively influences chronic pain conditions, including menstrual pain and visceral pain,
by modulating pain perception and emotional regulation. Additionally, the combination of DSB and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown promise in managing chronic pain and improving musculoskeletal pain thresholds. Despite promising findings in menstrual pain, visceral pain, and chronic conditions, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and optimize breathing techniques for pain relief. However, while DSB and VNS have demonstrated potential in reducing pain and anxiety, current research is limited in scope and methodology. Further investigations are needed to establish their long-term benefits and optimize their use in pain management strategies. This review underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the connection between controlled breathing, vagal tone, and pain relief to support their clinical application.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f47561d870c4baf812f75540463021e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f47561d870c4baf812f75540463021e2025-02-03T08:23:57ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-02-013710.12775/QS.2025.37.57777The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain ManagementMaria Wydro0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6397-0737Magdalena Grotowska1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2812-7639Martyna Łukasiewicz 2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8816-1030Aleksandra Strawińska 3https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6100-9766Szpital sw. Wincentego a Paulo ul. Wojta Radtkego 1, 83-348 Gdynia, PolandMikołaj Kopernik Hospital in Gdańsk, Nowe Ogrody 1-6, 80-803 Gdańsk, PolandUniversity Clinical Centre in Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, PolandMikołaj Kopernik Hospital in Gdańsk ul. Nowe Ogrody 1-6, 80 - 803 Gdańsk, Poland Breathing is a fundamental physiological process essential for cellular respiration and energy production. Beyond its physiological necessity, controlled breathing techniques such as yogic breathing etc. pranayama, have been practiced for centuries due to their perceived spiritual and health benefits, including stress reduction and pain management. Recent studies have explored the physiological effects of deep slow breathing (DSB), particularly its impact on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and pain perception. Evidence suggests that breathing at a low frequency, such as 6 h per minute (bpm), enhances heart rate variability (HRV), promotes parasympathetic activity, and reduces stress and pain levels. This review examines the mechanisms underlying these effects, highlighting the role of the vagus nerve in regulating relaxation and reducing inflammation. Empirical studies demonstrate that DSB positively influences chronic pain conditions, including menstrual pain and visceral pain,
by modulating pain perception and emotional regulation. Additionally, the combination of DSB and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown promise in managing chronic pain and improving musculoskeletal pain thresholds. Despite promising findings in menstrual pain, visceral pain, and chronic conditions, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and optimize breathing techniques for pain relief. However, while DSB and VNS have demonstrated potential in reducing pain and anxiety, current research is limited in scope and methodology. Further investigations are needed to establish their long-term benefits and optimize their use in pain management strategies. This review underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the connection between controlled breathing, vagal tone, and pain relief to support their clinical application. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/57777pain managementcontrolled breathingdeep slow breathing |
| spellingShingle | Maria Wydro Magdalena Grotowska Martyna Łukasiewicz Aleksandra Strawińska The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management Quality in Sport pain management controlled breathing deep slow breathing |
| title | The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management |
| title_full | The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management |
| title_short | The Role of Controlled Breathing in Pain Management |
| title_sort | role of controlled breathing in pain management |
| topic | pain management controlled breathing deep slow breathing |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/57777 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariawydro theroleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT magdalenagrotowska theroleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT martynałukasiewicz theroleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT aleksandrastrawinska theroleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT mariawydro roleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT magdalenagrotowska roleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT martynałukasiewicz roleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement AT aleksandrastrawinska roleofcontrolledbreathinginpainmanagement |