Integrative Breathwork for Chronic Pain

Overseen By Steven Pratscher, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

Must not be taking: Antipsychotics

Disqualifiers: Neurological disease, Heart disease, Respiratory disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a special breathing exercise to help people with chronic muscle or bone pain feel better. Researchers aim to determine if practicing these exercises in small groups can effectively manage pain. It targets individuals who have experienced pain in areas like the back, neck, or joints for at least three months, affecting their daily life. Participants should be able to lie still for about an hour and need internet access to join. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore new pain management techniques in a supportive group setting.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this integrative breathwork intervention is safe for individuals with chronic pain?

Research has shown that integrative breathwork is generally well-tolerated by people with chronic pain. In a study involving adults with ongoing muscle and joint pain, group breathwork sessions proved very acceptable, with participants reporting no major negative effects. This suggests that breathwork is safe for individuals with chronic pain.

Additionally, mindful breathing techniques, similar to breathwork, have been shown to help manage ongoing lower back pain. They can reduce pain and improve quality of life without causing harm.

These findings offer reassurance about the safety of breathwork for relieving chronic pain. However, it is important to consult a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Integrative Breathwork for chronic pain because it offers a drug-free alternative that could provide relief without the side effects associated with medications like opioids or NSAIDs. This technique involves conscious connected breathing, a unique approach that may help manage pain by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Unlike traditional therapies that primarily target pain through medication, breathwork focuses on enhancing the body's natural ability to regulate pain, potentially offering a holistic and empowering option for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

What evidence suggests that this integrative breathwork intervention is effective for chronic pain?

Research has shown that breathwork can help manage chronic pain. People who practice breathing exercises often report feeling less pain. This trial will test the Integrative Breathwork Intervention, which involves maintaining a steady, connected breathing pattern. Although this is the first study to test this method for chronic pain, it builds on techniques that have shown promise in other areas. Early results suggest that these breathing exercises might help individuals with chronic muscle and joint pain feel better. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants would need to be adults with a diagnosis of chronic pain who can engage in group activities.

Inclusion Criteria

Access to internet with a valid email address

I have had chronic pain in my back, neck, or limbs for at least 3 months.

My average pain level has been 4 or higher for the last month.

Exclusion Criteria

History of hospitalization or treatment of substance use disorder within the past 12 months

Pregnant

Current participation or participation in the past 2 months of an interventional research study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Iteration

Multiple single-arm iterations of a group breathwork intervention are conducted to refine and optimize the intervention and protocol.

Varies per iteration

Group sessions with 2-5 participants

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

A pilot randomized controlled trial is conducted comparing the breathwork intervention to a waitlist control group.

Not specified

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments at 1-week and 1-month follow-ups.

1 month

Follow-up assessments at 1-week and 1-month

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Integrative Breathwork Intervention

Trial Overview The study is testing an integrative breathwork intervention designed for groups. It aims to see if this approach is feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective at alleviating symptoms of chronic pain.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Integrative Breathwork Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The breathwork intervention will be delivered in groups of 2-5 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain. A conscious connected breathing technique will be engaged in for 45-60 minutes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9872326/

Conscious connected breathing with breath retention ... This will be the first study to examine the effects of a conscious connected breathing with breath retention intervention for individuals with chronic pain.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06546956

Integrative Breathwork Intervention for Chronic Pain This integrative breathwork intervention involves a 60-minute breathing session where the focus is to maintain a conscious connected breathing pattern (no pause ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/367377573_Conscious_connected_breathing_with_breath_retention_intervention_in_adults_with_chronic_low_back_pain_protocol_for_a_randomized_controlled_pilot_study

protocol for a randomized controlled pilot study Discussion This will be the first study to examine the effects of a conscious connected breathing with breath retention intervention for ...

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36694217/

protocol for a randomized controlled pilot study - PubMed - NIH This will be the first study to examine the effects of a conscious connected breathing with breath retention intervention for individuals with chronic pain.

5. ntnuopen.ntnu.no ntnuopen.ntnu.no/ntnu-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3205321/no.ntnu:inspera:294111239:113588348.pdf?sequence=1

Effectiveness of Breathwork in Managing Chronic Pain ... Results showed that individuals performing breathing exercises had a reduction in pain. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8719171/

Effectiveness and safety of yoga to treat chronic and acute ... Results were favourable to yoga compared with usual daily care, particularly in low back and cervical pain cases.

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06977984

Group Integrative Breathwork for Chronic Pain The intervention will be evaluated for feasibility, acceptability, and plausibility for clinically significant effects in people with chronic musculoskeletal ...

8. jpain.org jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(25)00266-4/fulltext

Single-Session Group Breathwork Intervention for Adults ... Participants included 11 adults with various types of chronic musculoskeletal pain. We found that the group breathwork intervention was highly acceptable and ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1524904224001528

Mindful Breathing as an Adjunctive Approach to Chronic ... Mindful breathing holds promise for chronic low back pain management, with studies revealing pain reduction and improved quality of life.