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Can Slow Breathing Ease Fibromyalgia Pain?

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Tuesday February 16, 2010

Research Brief

New research suggests that deep breathing, such as that recommended in yoga and meditation, can lower pain levels both for healthy people and some people with fibromyalgia.

People with fibromyalgia who were also depressed or more prone to negativity didn't report feeling better after breathing slowly, while those with a more positive outlook reported a benefit. The researchers say this could support the theory that pain and emotions, which are closely related in the brain, may have a heightened relationship in people with fibromyalgia.

My Two Cents

In this study, participants slowed their breathing down to half of the normal rhythm, then reported on whether they felt better. I have to wonder if the difference in people's attitudes was more to do with the placebo effect or reverse placebo effect than a connection between pain and emotion. Did the people with positive outlooks go in open minded or expecting it to work, while those who were depressed or more negative expected that it wouldn't work? We know those types of preconceived notions can have an impact on outcomes, which is why we test against placebos.

I do think deep breathing can be beneficial in general -- it can calm the body and mind and help us get a handle on stress and other emotions. When my anxiety creeps up, I can get rid of it by breathing deeply for a couple of minutes (not that I always remember to do it.) I also think there's probably something to a heightened relationships between fibromyalgia pain and emotions; we all know that getting anxious, angry or upset -- or even having a good time -- can cause our symptoms to flare. Now that this base-level research has been done, I hope they'll move on to more objective measures, such as brain scans that show activity in the pain and emotion centers.

The good thing about this research is that this is firmly in the "it sure can't hurt to try" column. You've got to breathe, right?

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24 months ago
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  • gc

    It works for me.

    Learning to do it deeply with my myofascial therapy.

    23 months ago

  • Lynnette

    Nothing takes my pain away, but when you do deep breathing exercises you take your focus off the pain. this allows you to open up your airways and provide much needed oxygenation. As the breathing slowly calms you, your muscles begin to relax and accept the oxygen deeper into the tissues. When you are tense, and that panicky feeling creeps in you tense up and lock down. This starves your body of oxygen and allows the toxins to build up thus increasing your pain. This is the same reason we benefit from walking and light exercise. I use breathing techniques for all my patients. If they are open to it they always get some benefit. The trouble with the studies is that they make it seem like it's all we need to feel better.

    23 months ago

  • Anna

    You are right, Lynnette. It should be so easy, huh? I do deep breathing regularly, and do feel better, but I did it before I got FM, and got the same amount of relief from any tension I was carrying, but not much difference in the pain and fatigue.

    21 months ago

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