Respiratory Muscle Warm Up Prior to Exercise in Patients with COPD V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Effect of a Respiratory Muscle Warm up Prior to Exercise in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
IRAS ID
186587
Contact name
Craig Williamson
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study, which is funded by the University of Portsmouth, is investigating the effect of performing a breathing muscle warm up before exercise in individuals who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a respiratory disease which is estimated to be present in almost 3 million people in the UK. It is generally a result of long term smoking and results in coughing, shortness of breath and a decreased tolerance to physical activity.
In healthy individuals it has been demonstrated that performing a breathing muscle warm up before exercise can benefit exercise performance and reduce breathlessness. Exercise is an important process in the rehabilitation of COPD patients and a key limiting factor to exercise in COPD patients is breathlessness, leading to a clear rationale for this study. The effects of a breathing muscle warm up have not yet been investigated in individuals with COPD.
The breathing muscle warm up involves breathing through a handheld device against a resistance. There will be four separate testing days, each of which involves a different warm up; 1. breathing in against a resistance, 2. breathing out against a resistance, 3. breathing in and out against a resistance and 4. no warm up. The study is looking at the effects of these warm ups on a number of different outcome measures relevant to COPD and/or rehabilitation. These measures are: lung function and breathing muscle strength, performance in an exercise test, feelings of breathlessness and effort during an exercise test, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation (oxygen levels in the blood), and measurements of the air breathed in and out.
It is expected that performing a breathing muscle warm up will allow the participants to walk further in an exercise test and decrease the feelings of breathlessness and effort.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0609
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion