Combined physiotherapy lowered pain and reflux scores in noncardiac chest pain
A short trial tested breathing, relaxation and stabilization techniques alongside medication. The combined program produced lower pain and reflux symptom scores than medication with education.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
At the end of the trial, the combined physiotherapy group had lower pain and reflux questionnaire scores than the comparison group. Depression measures changed significantly in both groups, but the abstract does not establish an added depression benefit from physiotherapy. These findings concern people with noncardiac chest pain, limiting their application to other patients.
This abstract-based account cannot establish whether the score differences were clinically meaningful. The abstract provides no long-term follow-up or detailed safety and cost data to assess those claims.
What researchers found
Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores
After 4 weeks, combined physiotherapy plus medication versus medication with education. Lower scores mean less reported pain; clinical importance remains unclear.
The intervention was a package
Participants received diaphragmatic breathing, Jacobson's relaxation and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization together with medication. Because the techniques were delivered together, the result does not establish the effectiveness of breathing practice or relaxation on its own.
Different outcomes gave different answers
The abstract reports advantages over the comparison group for reflux symptoms and pain. Significant depression-score changes within both groups answer a different question: they do not establish that adding physiotherapy improved depression more.
The original publication
Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise, Jacobson's Relaxation Technique and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization on Gastrointestinal and Psychological Causes of Noncardiac Chest Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Suryavanshi AR, Venkatesan P, Shetty R et al.
Pain Res Manag · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40860980
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.