Respiratory Muscle Training
Conditions
Keywords
Diaphragm, Control of Breathing, Exercise
Brief summary
The purpose of this research is to study the feasibility of a specific training program for the breathing muscles (inspiratory muscle training) and the effects on how breathing is regulated during exercise in typically developing children.
Detailed description
During the first study visit, participants will undergo a series of pulmonary function and muscle performance tests followed by treadmill walking trials at different speeds with concurrent expired gas analysis via a face mask. The participants will then perform a training program for the breathing muscles at home for 6 weeks. The research team will follow up each week via telehealth visits to support training. After the 6-week training program, participants will return in-person for a follow-up visit and will undergo the same series of assessments as the first visit.
Interventions
DEVICEPOWERbreathe Plus IMT
Inspiratory muscle training will be performed using the POWERbreathe Plus IMT (POWERbreathe International Ltd., Warwickshire, UK), a commercially available inspiratory pressure threshold device. In this type of training, airflow is occluded until the generated inspiratory pressure reaches the predetermined threshold, which can be set at increments of 8 cm H2O. During the first week of training, the target intensity will be set at 50% of baseline maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP.) During the second week, the target intensity will be set at 60% of baseline MIP. Beginning at the third week and for the remainder of the training program, the target intensity will be set at 75% of the participant's baseline MIP. The target volume will be 5 sets of 6 breaths per day (total of 30 breaths per day), separated by 1-minute rest breaks between sets. The frequency of training will be 5 days per week, for a duration of 6 weeks.
Sponsors
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age range 6-12 years of age
Exclusion criteria
* History of neuromuscular, cardiac, or pulmonary disease * Known intellectual or developmental problems that would preclude the ability to assent * Ruptured eardrum * Recent injury or condition (less than 6 months ago) that precludes strength testing or walking * Recent (less than 2 weeks ago) or current respiratory or other type of illness
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Percent completion | 6 weeks | Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the 6-week inspiratory muscle training protocol |
| Adherence to treatment protocol | 6 weeks | Number of sets and repetitions of training breaths completed during the 6-week inspiratory muscle training protocol |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maximal inspiratory pressure (measured in cm H2O) | 6 weeks | Maximal pressure generated during an inspiratory maneuver, representing inspiratory muscle strength |
| Diaphragm thickness (measured in mm) | 6 weeks | Thickness of the diaphragm muscle measured by noninvasive ultrasound imaging |
| Exercise ventilation | 6 weeks | Ratio of ventilation to carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) during steady-state walking, representing ventilatory drive during exercise |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORSimon Ho
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Outcome results
None listed