Effects of Expiratory Muscle Training in Children With Asthma: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Atlas University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Asthma Childhood; Respiratory Muscle Training

Treatments: Other: Home-based chest physiotherapy program; Other: Expiratory Muscle Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07169071

AtlasUmkaya05

2023/10 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of expiratory muscle training (EMT) as an adjunct to conventional chest physiotherapy in children with asthma. Respiratory muscle training has been shown to improve muscle strength, functional capacity, and symptom control in adults with asthma, but evidence in pediatric populations is limited, particularly regarding expiratory training. This study aims to determine whether adding EMT to standard physiotherapy enhances pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, asthma control, and functional capacity compared to chest physiotherapy alone. The main questions are: (1) Does EMT improve expiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in children with asthma? (2) Does EMT contribute to better asthma control and overall physical performance? Participants will be randomly assigned to either conventional chest physiotherapy or chest physiotherapy plus EMT. Interventions will be delivered as a home-based, low-cost, feasible program, with training protocols standardized in terms of intensity, frequency, and duration.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 8 and 18 years Clinically diagnosed with asthma Ability to walk, cooperate, and be clinically stable Willingness to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• History of hospitalization within the last 4 weeks prior to enrollment Hospitalization during the exercise training program Presence of secondary conditions that may affect respiratory function (e.g., kyphoscoliosis) Currently participating in or having participated in a regular exercise training program within the past year

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

Children in the experimental group will receive the same home-based chest physiotherapy program as the control group (8 weeks, 5 days per week, 30 minutes per day). In addition, they will perform expiratory muscle training (EMT) using a threshold device at 30% of their maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). EMT will be applied twice daily for 20 minutes, at least 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Resistance will be increased by 10% each week, adjusted according to tolerance and the presence of any complaints.

Treatment:

Other: Expiratory Muscle Training

Other: Home-based chest physiotherapy program

Control group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Children in the control group will receive a home-based chest physiotherapy program for 8 weeks, 5 days per week, 30 minutes per day. The program will include breathing exercises, teaching of relaxation positions, cough training, breathing control strategies, and physical activity recommendations. In addition, participants will perform sham expiratory muscle training at the lowest fixed load, twice daily for 20 minutes, at least 5 days per week for 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Home-based chest physiotherapy program