Abstract

Background and purpose: It is paramount that physical therapists assess and/or treat primary and secondary muscles of breathing that could be dysfunctional or impaired resulting in low back pain. The purpose of this case study is to highlight the clinical relevance and outcomes of assessing and treating primary and secondary muscle of breathing with patients who have been referred to physical therapy with a medical diagnosis of low back pain.

Method and procedures: A 66-year-old male patient presented to outpatient physical therapy with a report of low back pain. To determine the effects of the treatments, the patient was examined using movement analysis and outcome measurement tools such as the Global Rating of Change (GRoC) scale and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire. The patient attended physical therapy sessions over the duration of 4 weeks as needed (PRN) including the date of initial evaluation. The patient actively participated in the creation of the current goal: Eliminate pain, resume exercise.

Conclusion: On discharge assessment, the patient reported a reduced pain level during movement analysis. The patient made excellent progress and demonstrated marked improvements with thoracolumbar spine and proximal extremities functional range of motion.

Keywords: Physical therapy; Manual therapy; Breathing; Muscles; Low back pain; Inspiratory muscles