Exercise linked to a thicker diaphragm in older men
A four-week randomized trial in 30 healthy men aged 60–75 found greater diaphragm thickening with resistance and breathing exercises than with usual lifestyles.
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Interventions- Studied:
- Trial in people
Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Thirty healthy, community-dwelling men aged 60–75 took part in a randomized controlled trial of a program combining resistance training and structured breathing exercises. Fifteen men exercised for four weeks, while 15 maintained their usual lifestyles. The primary outcome was the thickness of the diaphragm, the main breathing muscle, measured using computed tomography scans.
Diaphragm thickness increased more in the exercise group than in the control group. The exercise group's six-minute walking distance rose by 46.73 meters, while the control group's declined slightly. Changes in questionnaire scores for physical and mental health did not differ significantly between groups. An exploratory liver scan measure also showed a difference in change between groups.
Why it matters
Age-related changes in muscles and breathing may contribute to declining physical capacity. The trial addressed whether respiratory muscle structure can adapt to a short exercise program in later life.
Caveats
What the thicker diaphragm meant for breathing function remained uncertain. The trial lasted four weeks and included only 30 healthy men aged 60–75, so its findings may not apply to women or people with illnesses.
The paper
Gümüşhane University; Topkapı University
Healthcare, Nov 6, 2026, CC BY
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