Chiropractic spinal manipulation is described as a way to stop stress or tension by realigning or balancing the spine — improving nerve function. In turn, this is designed to loosen the muscles and improve lung function. Some reports have shown that individuals with allergies or asthma may find it easier to breathe after treatment. However, in results from a few small randomized studies, no effective treatments were noted.

Osteopathy is similar to chiropractic in a number of ways, but osteopathy places more emphasis on soft tissue techniques designed to relax muscles. It usually is used to treat musculoskeletal problems, but has been used on asthma patients to help open up the chest. However, no documented improvements were found in two small studies.