. 2022 Mar 9;12:4149. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08128-w

Table 3.

Effect of training on muscle activation (%MVC).

Within-group							Between-groups
Outcomes	Groups	Baseline Mean ± SD	8-weeks Mean ± SD	Change Relative to Baseline^c (%)	D^† and 95% CI (Lower limit -Upper limit)	P	Interaction effects	P
Upper trapezius	Combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise	14.6 ± 1.8	5.8 ± 0.9	60.3% ↓	0.95 (0.41 to 1.33)	0.01^d	F = 7.42 P = 0.04f.	0.02^a 0.03^b
	Therapeutic exercise alone	11.2 ± 2.3	6.1 ± 1.1	45.5% ↓	0.81 (0.17 to 1.12)	0.02^d
	Control	12.5 ± 1.4	10.4 ± 2.5	16.8% ↓	0.21 (− 1.2 to 0.14)	0.13
Sternocleidomastoid	Combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise	68.1 ± 5.8	43.4 ± 5.0	36.3% ↓	0.91 (0.5 to 2.42)	0.01^d	F = 13.84 P = 0.02f.	0.02^a 0.03^b
	Therapeutic exercise alone	63.2 ± 7.5	44.7 ± 6.5	29.3% ↓	0.79 (0.23 to 1.44)	0.03^d
	Control	66.5 ± 7.1	64.7 ± 6.9	2.7% ↓	0.05 (− 0.08 to 1.48)	0.16
Scalene	Combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise	38.6 ± 3.7	21.0 ± 3.3	45.6% ↓	0.92 (0.41 to 2.14)	0.01^d	F = 14.48 P = 0.02f.	0.01^a 0.02^b
	Therapeutic exercise alone	33.8 ± 4.0	20.5 ± 3.6	39.3% ↓	0.86 (0.13 to 1.62)	0.02^d
	Control	35.4 ± 3.1	33.8 ± 2.8	4.5% ↓	0.26 (− 0.4 to 0.10)	0.21
Neck erector spinae	Combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise	28.8 ± 3.7	14.5 ± 3.0	49.6% ↓	0.90 (0.12 to 1.94)	0.01^d	F = 11.24 P = 0.03f.	0.02^a 0.03^b
	Therapeutic exercise alone	23.7 ± 2.8	15.9 ± 1.9	32.9% ↓	0.85 (0.17 to 1.64)	0.04^d
	Control	25.2 ± 3.1	26.9 ± 2.8	6.7% ↑	− 0.27 (− 0.22 to 0.8)	0.16
Diaphragm	Combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise	58.5 ± 7.2	75.0 ± 5.5	28.2% ↑	− 0.78 (− 0.2 to − 0.98)	0.01^d	F = 14.12 P = 0.03f.	0.01^a 0.03^e
	Therapeutic exercise alone	61.1 ± 6.7	58.4 ± 7.9	4.4% ↓	0.18 (− 0.2 to 0.46)	0.11
	Control	55.4 ± 5.3	53.8 ± 6.4	2.9% ↓	0.13 (− 0.12 to 0.07)	0.22

^aSignificant between combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise and control groups.

^bSignificant between therapeutic exercise alone and control groups.

^cPercent change (↓decrease, ↑increase).

^dDenotes significant within group improvement between the baseline and 8-weeks treatment period.

^eSignificant between combined respiratory-therapeutic exercise and therapeutic exercise alone groups.

^fSignificant group × time interaction.