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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05823259

The Impact of Respiratory Muscle Training and Patient Education on Chronic Constipation Outcomes

The primary aim of this study will be to determine if a respiratory muscle training program that includes both inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and expiratory muscle training (EMT), targeted at improving respiratory muscle performance-based measures combined with patient education about breathing on the toilet will improve patient satisfaction scores in individuals with chronic constipation (CC).

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Key information

Conditions

Constipation Ataxia Constipation - Functional Dyskinesias Dyssynergia Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Digestive

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults >18 years of age
  • Complaint of CC and associated symptoms
  • Willing and able to sign an informed consent
  • The ability to comply with study guidelines
  • Report two or more of the following: straining during more than 25% of defecations, lumpy or hard stools more than 25% of defecations, sensations of incomplete bowel evacuation more than 25% of defecations, manual maneuvers to facilitate more than 25% of defecations, sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage more than 25% of defecations, and fewer than 3 small bowel movements per week.

Exclusion criteria

  • Rectal prolapse greater than grade 2
  • Pregnancy
  • Cognitive impairments
  • Currently receiving physical therapy treatment for conditions associated with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
  • Recent surgery within the past 3 months without clearance from a medical doctor
  • Medication usage that would interfere with their ability to exercise safely
  • Individuals recovering from a confirmed eating disorder
  • Recent unexplained weight loss >10lbs within one month.

Treatment and study plan

Hybrid Telehealth Program: Respiratory Muscle Training and Patient Education

Other

A testing session will be held where subjects will undergo respiratory muscle testing using the Pro2Fit device to measure PIMax and PEmax. During this session, subjects will be instructed in a respiratory muscle training home program utilizing a provided device call the Breather. They will be instructed to perform this program consisting of breathing exercises for 2 sets of 10 repetitions, twice a day at a difficulty level of 5-7 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scale for 8 weeks. Subjects will be shown how to follow a training program every day utilizing the free companion application to the device "Breather Coach." If subjects have issues with using technology, they will be provided a physical log to record when they complete sessions. Ten to fifteen-minute Zoom sessions with the study coordinator will be held once a week to check in on how the program is progressing, compliance, and if the resistance can be increased.

Standard Physical Therapy care

Other

A group of patients who receive standard physical therapy care for chronic constipation at the University of Miami that consists of biofeedback therapy, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and patient education.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change In Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM)

    Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

    The PAC-SYM questionnaire is a 12 item questionnaire that consists of three subscales: abdominal, rectal, and stool. Each item is scored 0-4 (0: Absent, 1: Mild, 2: Moderate, 3: Severe, 4: Very Severe). The final score is the average of the summed score divided by the number of items, ranging from 0: Absent, 1: Mild, 2: Moderate, 3: Severe, 4: Very Severe. A total raw score can range for 0-48, however the average score is used to indicate the level of constipation from 0-4 with a higher number indicating higher severity of constipation.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change In Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (PImax)

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    PImax will be measured via the test of incremental respiratory endurance (TIRE) using the Pro2fit device and application. Values will be presented in cmH20. Minimal score will be a 0 with a higher value indicating greater inspiratory muscle strength.

  2. Change In Maximal Expiratory Pressure (PEmax)

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    PEmax will be measured via the test of incremental respiratory endurance (TIRE) using the Pro2fit device and application. Minimal score will be a 0 with a higher value indicating greater expiratory muscle strength.

  3. Change in Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS)

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a 14-item questionnaire with two subscales, each consisting of 7 items. For both subscales, scores between 8-10 indicate mild depression or anxiety, and scores in the range of 11-21 are indicative of depression or anxiety disorder. A cutoff score for both the anxiety and depression subscale of the HADS of ≥ 8 has been suggested as optimal in identifying depression and anxiety in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder of gut-brain interaction.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Miami

Other

Collaborators

  • American Physical Therapy Association

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of a Widely Accessible Respiratory Muscle Training Program Integrated with Patient Education Utilizing a Hybrid Telehealth Platform on Patient-Reported Constipation Outcome Scores: a Call to Treat Beyond the Pelvic Floor

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 21, 2023
Registry last updated
Dec 13, 2024

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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