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

Does adding external diaphragm pacing to respiratory muscle training improve breathing, walking capacity, and low back pain outcomes in people with pneumoconiosis and nonspecific low back pain?

30 patients with pneumoconiosis plus nonspecific low back pain at an occupational disease hospital in Tianjin, China (Oct 2022–Dec 2024)

Randomized controlled trial — what this means, 15 per group; both groups got respiratory muscle training plus usual rehab, one group also received external diaphragm pacemaker therapy; outcomes at baseline — what this means, 7 days, and 14 days

• At 7 days both groups improved from baseline — what this means across all measures, with no significant between-group separation reported
• At 14 days oxygen saturation favored the pacing group: 97.07±0.80% vs 94.93±1.16% (p<0.05)
• At 14 days the pacing group had less dyspnea (mMRC 1.20±0.41 vs 1.93±0.70) and walked farther (6MWT 395.80±30.60 m vs 343.53±35.46 m), both p<0.05
• At 14 days pain and disability favored the pacing group: VAS 1.73±0.59 vs 3.47±0.74 and RMDQ 4.13±0.64 vs 6.27±1.16 (both p<0.05); group-by-time interactions significant for all outcomes

In this small, short-term trial, adding external diaphragm pacing to respiratory muscle training was associated with better respiratory, walking, and back pain outcomes at two weeks, though the sample size and lack of longer follow-up — what this means limit confidence.