Physiotherapy and Dysfunctional Breathing

A Comparison of the Effects of Respiratory Physiotherapy Alone and Respiratory Physiotherapy Combined With Musculoskeletal Techniques in the Management of Dysfunctional Breathing

Status

UNKNOWN

Phases

Phase 3

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00895219

Acronym

HVS

Enrollment

Registered

2009-05-08

Start date

2007-07-31

Completion date

2009-12-31

Last updated

2009-05-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hyperventilation

Keywords

Hyperventilation, Dysfunctional breathing, Physiotherapy, Musculoskeletal techniques

Brief summary

Traditionally, the physiotherapy management of people with dysfunctional breathing or hyperventilation syndrome is breathing re-training. There is increasing clinical evidence that structural and functional changes develop in the muscles and connective tissues of the chest wall, abdomen and back when the upper chest accessory pattern of breathing is used over time. When treatment includes breathing techniques only it is difficult for a person with chronic hyperventilation, who has developed muscle and connective tissue changes, to revert to using the normal lower chest diaphragmatic breathing pattern. In clinical practice when the problems which have developed in the musculoskeletal system are addressed, the patient reverts more quickly to the lower chest pattern of breathing but there is as yet little evidence to support this clinical finding.

Interventions

OTHERBreathing re-training

Breathing re-training

OTHERBreathing re-training and musculoskeletal techniques

Breathing re-training and musculoskeletal physiotherapy techniques including mobilisation techniques to normalise muscle and joint restrictions, doming of the diaphragm to enhance contraction and relaxation, and rib raising to free restriction in rib cage motion.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

16 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* diagnosis of dysfunctional breathing (Nijmegen score of more than 23)

Exclusion criteria

* active metastatic disease * osteoporotic disease * dysfunctional breathing as a consequence of respiratory or cardiac disease

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Nijmegen Questionnaire	0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 26 weeks

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Six-minute walking test	0, 2, 4, 8, 12 & 26 weeks

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026