Chronic low back pain is a global problem that affects all segments of the population and has a negative impact on daily activities and quality of life. The respiratory muscles play an important role in stabilizing the spine and supporting correct posture, but may undergo changes due to chronic pain, which may affect respiratory function. Objective — to assess the function of the respiratory system in patients with chronic low back pain in order to optimize treatment strategies. Materials and methods. A total of 100 individuals aged 25—44 years were examined at the University Clinic of Bogomolets National Medical University. All subjects were divided into two groups: people with chronic low back pain and practically healthy people. Key anthropometric parameters were measured and spirometry was performed to assess external respiratory function. Results and discussion. The average BMI of men and women with chronic low back pain was (28.15 ± 3.75) and (25.42 ± 4.73) kg/m2, respectively, indicating overweight. Among women with chronic low back pain, there was a significant decrease in such indicators as thoracic excursion (TE) (p = 0.0008), FEV1 (p = 0.01), and FVC (p = 0.04) compared with healthy women, while other indicators did not show significant differences. Among men with chronic low back pain there was a significant decrease in such indicators as TE (p = 0.001), FVC (p = 0.03), FEV1 (p = 0.01), FEV1 (p = 0.002), MVV (p = 0.002), expiratory FVC (p = 0.02) compared with healthy men. Conclusions. Individuals with chronic low back pain have reduced respiratory system function and reduced respiratory muscle strength. The integration of respiratory muscle exercises into rehabilitation programs can potentially improve the treatment outcomes of people with chronic low back pain.
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