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Effects of an Exercise Rehabilitation Programme With a Nasal Inspiratory Restriction Device in COPD Patients

Evaluation of a Respiratory Muscle Training Program Restricting Nasal Breathing With FeelBreathe® Device in COPD Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03936348
Acronym
EPOC_2_0
Enrollment
16
Registered
2019-05-03
Start date
2016-01-15
Completion date
2017-12-18
Last updated
2019-05-31

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

Conditions

Breathing Exercises, Exercise Tolerance, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Keywords

Pulmonary rehabilitation, Medical device, FeelBreathe, Exercise intervention, Equipment and Supplies

Brief summary

This study evaluates the effects of a nasal restriction device for inspiratory muscle training (FeelBreathe) after 8 weeks of exercise intervention on exercise capacity, quality of life, dyspnea and inspitarotory muscle strength in patients with stable COPD. Participants were divided in three groups: 1) exercise intervention using the Feelbreathe® device (FB group), 2) exercise intervention with oronasal breathing without FB (ONB group) and 3) no participation in the exercise intervention as control group (CG).

Detailed description

The Feelbreathe® device, tested in the investigator's study can be used in static and dynamic situations and is a nasal ventilatory flow restriction device made by a strip of hypoallergenic material (3M Spain, S.A. Medical Specialties / O.E.M.) that is placed and adhered under the nostrils impairing the free pass of air through the nose by producing resistance to flow. Depend on the size or/and porosity of the device, the inspiratory process is more or less difficult. It can be used while performing dynamic exercise or doing daily living activities. The Feelbreathe® device (FB) has been authorized by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products for application on COPD patients (Expedient 521/15/EC. AEMPS-Madrid-Spain-Patent Nº: P200902402).

Interventions

DEVICEExercise training program with and without FB

Participants carried out a supervised RP for 8 weeks, 3 days per week. The training sessions lasted 60 minutes and included a warning up phase, the main phase and a recovery phase. After each session, Borg's perceived exertion was measured. The Rehabilitation Program (RP) included aerobic exercise on cycle ergometer and on treadmill (progressing since 10' to 30' and since 40 to 75% of the reserve heart rate (RHR) or 6-7 score based on Borg's perceived exertion), strengthening of lower and upper limb muscles groups, breathing exercises (pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing and diaphragmatic mobility) and finally stretching exercises. In the FB group, for restricted nasal breathing, at the beginning of the training program, the small size device was used (4 mm). The size of the device was progressively increasing according to the patient adaptation to the 5 or 6 mm device, depending on the score on Borg's perceived exertion scale.

Sponsors

Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica
CollaboratorOTHER
Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar
CollaboratorOTHER
Bahía Sur Andalusian Center for Sports Medicine
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
University of Cadiz
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Patients were randomized to 3 groups. The first one performed a supervised RP using the Feelbreathe® device (FB group), the second group developed the same RP with oronasal breathing without FB (ONB group) and the third was the control group (CG). The RP was conducted during 8 weeks, 3 days per week, and includes a combined training of endurance and strength exercises.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
35 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* men with diagnosis of COPD according to guidelines criteria * with moderate or severe airflow obstruction (GOLD 2 or 3) * dyspnea grade 2 or greater by mMRC scale * stable clinical condition for at least 2 months.

Exclusion criteria

* poor compliance * treatment with oxygen therapy or non-invasive mechanical ventilation * CO2 retention * medical conditions that can produce or increase dyspnea on exercise in addition to COPD (cardiovascular, metabolic or other respiratory diseases) * osteoarticular or neuromuscular diseases that may limit the correct performance of the 6MWT

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Oxygen uptake during incremental test to exhaustion on treadmill8 WEEKSmL/min
Ventilation during incremental test to exhaustion on treadmill8 WEEKSL/min

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
dyspnea scale8 WEEKSmMRC (Modified Medical Research Council) Dyspnea Scale. Values from 0 (better) to 4 (worse) about disability attributable to breathlessness
The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is a questionnaire for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)8 WEEKSThe COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score measures the impact that COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is having on the wellbeing and daily life of the patient. Score from 0 (better) to 40 (worse) about the impact of COPD symptoms on patients' overall health.
exercise capacity using the distance walked in the six minutes walking test (6MWT)8 WEEKSdistance measured in meters

Outcome results

None listed

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