Diaphragmatic Breathing for Improving Lumbar Flexibility: An Experimental Study on Final-Year Students at STIKES Bethesda Yakkum Yogyakarta

Introduction: Many final-year students report neuromuscular issues associated with decreased lumbar flexibility. This study examines the effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing exercises in improving lumbar flexibility and reducing neuromuscular complaints. Methods: An experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted on 50 final-year students at STIKES Bethesda Yakkum Yogyakarta. Participants were selected based on inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. The study lasted for two weeks, with two sessions per week. Lumbar flexibility was measured before and after the intervention using the Modified-Modified Schober Test (MMST). Results: The results showed a significant increase in lumbar flexibility following diaphragmatic breathing exercises, with a p-value of 0.000. The average increase in lumbar flexibility was 1.16 cm (SD = 0.32 cm), indicating that this exercise effectively enhances lumbar flexibility. Conclusion: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises have a significant impact on improving lumbar flexibility in final-year students. These findings suggest that such exercises can effectively reduce neuromuscular complaints related to lumbar flexibility. Keywords: diaphragmatic breathing exercises, lumbar flexibility, final-year students