Healthy
Conditions
Brief summary
Despite the literature evidence that the balloon-blowing exercise improves the pulmonary function as a long-term effect, this exercise has not yet been studied or tested experimentally, meaning that there are no specific and measurable results that attest the improvement on thoracoabdominal movement.
Interventions
PROCEDUREAn adaptation of the balloon-blowing exercise
The participants were positioned in supine, on a semi-rigid surface, with the upper limbs placed above the level of the head, at rest. Their feet were also placed at a resting position on a wall and with their hips and knees at 90o of flexion. The cervical was placed in a neutral position and the pelvis was maintained in a posterior pelvic tilt, both structures corrected by the researcher. The participants were asked to contract the adductors, maintaining a bilateral and symmetric pressure between 10 and 15 mmHg on two sphygmomanometers placed between the knees. Also, an isometric contraction of the hamstrings and gluteus was requested. A Threshold®, with a minimum resistance of 5 cmH2O, and they were instructed to close their lips around the mouthpiece, to avoid air leaks. To start the exercise, it was transmitted to the participants to make a maximum inspiration through the nose, for two seconds. Subsequently, a maximum exhalation throughout the threshold was made for three seconds.
PROCEDUREAn adaptation of the balloon-blowing exercise for seven weeks, three times a week, at home
The participants were positioned in supine, on a semi-rigid surface, with the upper limbs placed above the level of the head, at rest. Their feet were also placed at a resting position on a wall and with their hips and knees at 90o of flexion. The cervical was placed in a neutral position and the pelvis was maintained in a posterior pelvic tilt, both structures corrected by the researcher. The participants were asked to contract the adductors, maintaining a bilateral and symmetric pressure between 10 and 15 mmHg on two sphygmomanometers placed between the knees. Also, an isometric contraction of the hamstrings and gluteus was requested. A Threshold®, with a minimum resistance of 5 cmH2O, and they were instructed to close their lips around the mouthpiece, to avoid air leaks. To start the exercise, it was transmitted to the participants to make a maximum inspiration through the nose, for two seconds. Subsequently, a maximum exhalation throughout the threshold was made for three seconds.
Sponsors
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
The target population consisted of healthy physiotherapy students from School of Health - Polytechnic of Porto, who volunteered to participate in study. Inclusion criteria: \- In the Experimental Group B were admitted individuals that, through the analysis of the training record sheet, had executed 2⁄3 of the programmed sessions.
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals that had participated in aerobic physical activities of moderate (i.e., at least 30 minutes on five days per week) or vigorous intensity (i.e., at least 20 minutes on three days per week) for more than one year; * Chronic nonspecific lumbopelvic pain (i.e., recurrent episodes of lumbopelvic pain for a period exceeding three months); * Flu symptoms or respiratory infection up to one week before data collection; * History of recent ribs fracture and pain in the last three months; * Pulmonary or rib cage previous pathologies; * Length discrepancy of the lower limbs or other postural asymmetries; * History of spinal, gynaecological, or abdominal surgery in the previous year; * Recurrent muscle/joint pain and history of musculoskeletal injury in the last three months; * Smoking and/or drinking habits.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior-to-posterior movement of the upper rib cage | Immediate after procedure | Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through Qualisys motion capture system. |
| Anterior-to-posterior movement of the lower rib cage | Immediate after procedure | Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through Qualisys motion capture system. |
| Anterior-to-posterior abdominal movement | Immediate after procedure | Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through Qualisys motion capture system. |
| Medial-to-lateral movement of the upper rib cage | Immediate after procedure | Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through Qualisys motion capture system. |
| Medial-to-lateral movement of the lower rib cage | Immediate after procedure | Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through Qualisys motion capture system. |
Countries
Portugal
Outcome results
None listed