Can hands-on treatment of the spine affect breathing?

Parkinson's patients suffer from respiratory distress for different reasons. It is thought that physiotherapy methods that have an indirect effect on the diaphragm can improve respiratory functions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of spinal mobilization and diaphragmatic breathing techniques on respiratory function.

Respiratory complications are one of the most common causes of death in Parkinson's patients. Camptocormia may develop in Parkinson's disease and other pathological conditions involving the basal ganglia, which can be defined as an abnormal flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 45° or more, which increases during walking or standing and disappears completely in the supine position. Parkinson's patients with camptocormia often complain of dyspnea, which can be attributed to reduced lung capacity due to limited chest expansion. Restrictive changes due to respiratory muscle dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, upper airway obstruction, abnormal ventilatory control, and drug use such as levodopa have an effect on respiratory functions. Restrictive dysfunction has been reported in 28-94% of patients with Parkinson's. Postural disorders such as camptocormia can also lead to restriction. One study found that the lung volumes of Parkinson's disease patients with camptocormia decreased, although it was not associated with major clinical changes. Diaphragmatic dyskinesia in Parkinson's patients may also lead to a restrictive deterioration in respiratory functions. Studies examining the effects of chest and diaphragm mobilization on spirometric parameters in patients with cerebral palsy reported that the applied mobilization and soft tissue techniques improved FEV1 and FVC. The effect of indirect diaphragmatic treatments with vertebral mobilization in individuals with Parkinson's who are at risk of experiencing restrictive respiratory problems is unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of spinal mobilization techniques for the diaphragm on respiratory function parameters and posture.