[External diaphragm pacemaker combined with respiratory muscle training for pneumoconiosis with nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective

To investigate the rehabilitation efficacy of respiratory muscle training combined with external diaphragm pacemaker (EDP) in patients with pneumoconiosis complicated with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) .

Methods

A total of 30 patients with pneumoconiosis and NSLBP treated at Tianjin Occupational Diseases Prevention and Control Hospital from October 2022 to December 2024 were enrolled and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method, with 15 patients in each group. Both groups received respiratory muscle training and conventional rehabilitation treatment, while the experimental group additionally received EDP therapy. Outcome measures, including pulse oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), were assessed before treatment, at 7 days, and at 14 days of treatment. Statistical analysis was performed on the data.

Results

At 7 days of treatment, both groups showed significant improvements in SpO(2), mMRC score, 6MWT, VAS score, and RMDQ score compared with baseline (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in mMRC score, 6MWT, or RMDQ score (all P>0.05). At 14 days of treatment, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in SpO(2)[ (97.07±0.80) % vs. (94.93±1.16) %, P<0.05], mMRC score[ (1.20±0.41) points vs. (1.93±0.70) points, P<0.05], 6MWT [ (395.80±30.60) m vs. (343.53±35.46) m, P<0.05], VAS score [ (1.73±0.59) points vs. (3.47±0.74) points, P<0.05], and RMDQ score [ (4.13±0.64) points vs. (6.27±1.16) points, P<0.05]. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that the interaction effects for all indicators were statistically significant (all P<0.05) .

Conclusion

Respiratory muscle training combined with EDP can effectively improve SpO(2), alleviate dyspnea, increase walking distance, relieve pain, and improve lumbar function in patients with pneumoconiosis complicated with NSLBP.