None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The study is designed to reflect a real-world scenario where an exercise physiologist may deliver small group breathwork sessions online whilst providing participants materials to perform self-directed practice at home. Additionally, the study will begin the process of developing protocols for safe and effective telehealth breathwork sessions. This includes screening, orientating participants to the telehealth environment, providing technical support, setting online group class etiquette and structure, optimising the home practice environment, promoting social engagement support, and providing opportunities for feedback. The research will be used to inform future studies
Interventions
Participants allocated to the Breathwork intervention group will receive a thirty day, daily five-minute structured breathing protocol. The breathing practice will be intentional, slow paced, and diaphragmatic, at a respiratory ratio of four seconds inhalation, and six seconds exhalation. There will be no breath holds. Breathing will be instructed to be nostrils only on inhalation and exhalation. Participants will receive this protocol through two instructor-led, small group online sessions per
Participants allocated to the Breathwork intervention group will receive a thirty day, daily five-minute structured breathing protocol. The breathing practice will be intentional, slow paced, and diaphragmatic, at a respiratory ratio of four seconds inhalation, and six seconds exhalation. There will be no breath holds. Breathing will be instructed to be nostrils only on inhalation and exhalation. Participants will receive this protocol through two instructor-led, small group online sessions per week via Zoom, and complete self-directed practice for the other five days each week. During self-directed practice participants will have access to eXHALeR and an audio-visual guide. Breathwork Intervention Group Materials During self-directed practice participants will have access to a web-based breathing eXHALeR which provides simple audio-visual guide. Participants will be provided a logbook to record their pre and post Visual Analogue Stress Score (VASS) and will require access to internet and a mobile device. Procedures Participants allocated to the breathwork intervention group will receive a thirty day, daily five-minute breathwork protocol. The breathwork practice will be intentional, slow paced, and diaphragmatic, at a respiratory ratio of four seconds inhalation, and six seconds exhalation. There will be no breath holds. Breathing will be instructed to be via the nostrils only on inhalation and exhalation. Participants will attend a training session to learn the breathwork protocol and how to access and use the online tools. During the intervention participants will receive two instructor-led, small group online sessions per week via Zoom, and complete self-directed practice for the other five days each week. During self-directed practice participants will have access to eXHALeR and an audio-visual guide. Who will deliver the intervention? The lead investigator will deliver the pre intervention training and deliver the instructor led online breathwork sessions. Mode of delivery. The breathwork intervention group will participate in online, instructor-led sessions twice a week and self-directed practice five days a week. duration, intensity participants will practice the breathwork protocol for five minutes per day, for thirty days. The breathwork protocol intensity is low at four seconds inhalation and six seconds exhalation at six breaths per minute for five minutes. This breathwork protocol has been demonstrated to be safe, with no adverse events reported in the literature, Location. Initial informed consent, baseline assessments, and protocol training sessions will be conducted face to face with an Exercise Physiology clinic. The Breathwork intervention group will be conducted online. Adherence. Feasibility will be assessed by recruitment rate (% of eligible participants expressing an interest and providing informed consent for the study), retention (% of commencing participants who remain in the study at baseline, end intervention and follow-up), and adherence (proportion of participants completing on-line and self-directed sessions, completion of daily logbook proportion of eXHALeR app use.)
Sponsors
University of Queensland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
To be eligible to participate, clients will need to be healthy adults with access to the internet and ownership of a smartphone will also be required. They will also need to be members /clients of the exercise physiology clinic Balance Holistic Fitness. Clinic clients expressing an interest in the study will have already been screened by an exercise physiologist and attained relevant medical clearance for exercise.
Exclusion criteria
exclusion criteria including cardiac conditions such as a major adverse cardiac event, severe COPD, and severe mental health conditions (Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or recent hospitalization for psychiatric issues.)
Outcome results
None listed