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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04737824

Immediate and Long-term Effects of an Adaptation of the "Balloon-blowing Exercise"

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Escola Superior de Saúde - Instituto Politécnico do Porto

Porto, 4200-072, Portugal

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

An adaptation of the "balloon-blowing" exercise

Procedure

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.

Other names: Motor control exercise A

An adaptation of the "balloon-blowing" exercise for seven weeks, three times a week, at home

Procedure

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.

Other names: Motor control exercise B

Primary outcomes

  1. Anterior-to-posterior movement of the upper rib cage

    Time frame: Immediate after procedure

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  2. Anterior-to-posterior movement of the lower rib cage

    Time frame: Immediate after procedure

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  3. Anterior-to-posterior abdominal movement

    Time frame: Immediate after procedure

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  4. Medial-to-lateral movement of the upper rib cage

    Time frame: Immediate after procedure

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  5. Medial-to-lateral movement of the lower rib cage

    Time frame: Immediate after procedure

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  6. Anterior-to-posterior movement of the upper rib cage

    Time frame: Seven weeks

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  7. Anterior-to-posterior movement of the lower rib cage

    Time frame: Seven weeks

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  8. Anterior-to-posterior abdominal movement

    Time frame: Seven weeks

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  9. Medial-to-lateral movement of the upper rib cage

    Time frame: Seven weeks

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

  10. Medial-to-lateral movement of the lower rib cage

    Time frame: Seven weeks

    Thoracoabdominal movement was measure through "Qualisys motion capture system".

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Immediate and Long-term Effects of an Adaptation of the "Balloon-blowing Exercise" on the Thoracoabdominal Movement in Healthy Students - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Feb 4, 2021
Registry last updated
Aug 31, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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