Do Cardiorespiratory Variables Predict the Antinociceptive Effects of Deep and Slow Breathing?

Zunhammer, Matthias and Eichhammer, Peter and Busch, Volker (2013) Do Cardiorespiratory Variables Predict the Antinociceptive Effects of Deep and Slow Breathing? PAIN MEDICINE, 14 (6). pp. 843-854. ISSN 1526-2375, 1526-4637

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Deep and slow breathing (DSB) is a central part of behavioral exercises used for acute and chronic pain management. Its mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. Objectives. 1) To test the effects of breathing frequency on experimental pain perception in a dose dependent fashion. 2) To test the effects of breathing frequency on cardiorespiratory variables hypothesized to mediate DSB analgesia. 3) To determine the potential of the cardiorespiratory variables to mediate antinociceptive DSB effects by regression analysis. Design. Single-blind, randomized, crossover trial. Subjects. Twenty healthy participants. Interventions. Visually paced breathing at 0.14Hz, 0.10Hz, 0.06Hz, and resting frequency. Outcome Measures. Cardiorespiratory variables: RR-interval (=60 seconds/heart rate), standard deviation of the RR-interval (SDRR), and respiratory CO2. Experimental pain measures: heat pain thresholds, cold pain thresholds, pain intensity ratings, and pain unpleasantness ratings. Results. 1) There was no effect of DSB frequency on experimental pain perception. 2) SDRR and respiratory CO2 were significantly modulated by DSB frequency, while RR-interval was not. 3) Baseline-to-DSB and session-to-session differences in RR-interval significantly predicted pain perception within participants: Prolonged RR-intervals predicted lower pain ratings, while shortened RR-intervals predicted higher pain ratings. SDRR and respiratory CO2 were not found to predict pain perception. Conclusions. The present study could not confirm hypotheses that the antinociceptive effects of DSB are related to changes in breathing frequency, heart rate variability, or hypoventilation/hyperventilation when applied as a short-term intervention. It could confirm the notion that increased cardiac parasympathetic activity is associated with reduced pain perception.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY; RESPIRATORY SINUS ARRHYTHMIA; CARDIAC VAGAL TONE; COLD PRESSOR PAIN; RATE BIOFEEDBACK; PERCEPTION; INTERVENTIONS; VALIDATION; DISORDER; BODY; Pain; Breathing; Respiration; Heart Rate Variability; Biofeedback; Relaxation
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 08 Apr 2020 08:25
Last Modified: 08 Apr 2020 08:26
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/16568

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item