Effects of diaphragmatic breathing and manual diaphragm relaxation on respiratory muscle strength, chest expansion, pulmonary function, and sitting ability in children with diplegic cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combining manual diaphragmatic relaxation with diaphragmatic breathing on respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, chest expansion, and sitting ability in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. The results indicated that the intervention group experienced significant improvements in respiratory muscle strength and chest mobility compared to the control group, although no significant differences were observed in pulmonary function test parameters or sitting ability. The findings suggest that incorporating these breathing techniques into physiotherapy may enhance rehabilitation outcomes for this population.