Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseNCT06381973
Ventilation Distribution in COPD Patients During Breathing Exercises
A study testing ELTGOL_Physio, ELTGOL_Auto and PEP in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Healthy, run by William Poncin, PT, PhD at 1 site in Belgium.
Trial summary
ELTGOL (Slow Expiration with the Opened Glottis in the Lateral posture) is an airway clearance technique performed in the lateral decubitus position. This technique focuses on optimizing ventilation of the infralateral lung (when the subject is lying in the lateral posture) to enhance local air-liquid interaction. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Healthy
- What is being tested?
- ELTGOL_Physio, ELTGOL_Auto and PEP
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 33 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBelgium
- Study dates
- 15 Apr 2024to 16 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy subjects: No acute or chronic respiratory disease, normal lung function, non-smoker.
- Patients with COPD: forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) ≤ 80% predicted value, in stable state.
Who cannot join
- Healthy subjects: obesity (BMI > 35kg/m²); active or former smoker; severe scoliosis; cardiovascular or neuromuscular disease; active implant (cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); thoracic skin lesion.
- Patients with COPD: obesity (BMI > 35kg/m²); severe scoliosis; severe cardiovascular disease; neuromuscular disease; active implant (cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); thoracic skin lesion.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Belgium1 site
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc
Brussels, Brussels Capital, 1200
About this study
Official title: Influence of Airway Clearance Techniques on Ventilation Distribution in the Lateral Posture in COPD and Healthy Individuals
ELTGOL (Slow Expiration with the Opened Glottis in the Lateral posture) is an airway clearance technique performed in the lateral decubitus position. This technique focuses on optimizing ventilation of the infralateral lung (when the subject is lying in the lateral posture) to enhance local air-liquid interaction. Previous studies on ventilation differences between the infra- and supralateral lungs were conducted on healthy, young, male subjects, without the application of thoracic or abdominal pressure.
This study aimed to assess ventilation distribution in right lateral recumbency in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as healthy individuals, and investigate the impact of thoracic and abdominal manual pressures during ELTGOL on ventilation distribution.
Read the detailed description
Electrical impedance tomography will be used to verify the effect of the lateral posture and associated breathing techniques in COPD and healthy individuals. The subjects will be placed in a standardised position before the measurements begin. The subjects will be placed in a right lateral recumbency position. The protocol comprises four manoeuvres, each interrupted by a short rest phase. Each subject will begin the experiment with the spontaneous ventilation manoeuvre in order to obtain the reference ventilation distribution. This will be followed by four other manoeuvres during which ventilation was measured: 1) using an spirometer to obtain a tidal volume of 1L, 2) performing the ELTGOL technique independently, 3) performing the ELTGOL technique assisted by manual pressures applied by a physiotherapist. 4) using a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device.
- Conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Healthy
- Being tested
- ELTGOL_Physio, ELTGOL_Auto, PEP, 1L-Tidal-Breathing, Spontaneous Breathing
- Medical subject headings
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ELTGOL_PhysioBehavioural
The subject will be asked to slowly exhale with the glottis opened in the right lateral posture. The physiotherapist will accompany the subject by gently applying manual pressure on the chest wall and the abdomen during expiratory phases.
ELTGOL_AutoBehavioural
The subject will be asked to slowly exhale with the glottis opened in the right lateral posture. The physiotherapist will not intervene in this arm.
PEPDevice
The subject will be asked to exhale through a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device (Threshold PEP) while being in the right lateral posture.
1L-Tidal-BreathingBehavioural
The subject will be asked to breath with a fixed tidal-breathing of 1 liter per breath (monitored via a spirometer) while being in the right lateral posture.
Spontaneous BreathingBehavioural
The subject will be asked to breath spontaneously while being in the right lateral posture.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ELTGOL_Physio | Active comparator | ELTGOL + Manual pressure of the physiotherapist Receives: Behavioral: ELTGOL_Physio |
| ELTGOL_Auto | Active comparator | ELTGOL performed autonomously Receives: Behavioral: ELTGOL_Auto |
| PEP | Active comparator | Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) Receives: Device: PEP |
| 1L-Tidal-Breathing | Active comparator | Tidal-breathing of 1 liter per breath Receives: Behavioral: 1L-Tidal-Breathing |
| Spontaneous Breathing | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Spontaneous Breathing |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Impedance variation using Electrical Impedance Tomography
Impedance change in the right and left lungs
Measured: 2 minutes during intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Apr 2024
- Study start15 Apr 2024
- Primary completion16 May 2025
- Study completion16 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 33 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- William Poncin, PT, PhD
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, William Poncin, PT, PhD, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06381973
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ELTGOL
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Apr 2024
- Last updated
- 23 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Influence of Airway Clearance Techniques on Ventilation Distribution in the Lateral Posture in COPD and Healthy Individuals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06381973
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ELTGOL
- Conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Healthy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 33 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- William Poncin, PT, PhDUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
ELTGOL (Slow Expiration with the Opened Glottis in the Lateral posture) is an airway clearance technique performed in the lateral decubitus position. This technique focuses on optimizing ventilation of the infralateral lung (when the subject is lying in the lateral posture) to enhance local air-liquid interaction. Previous studies on ventilation differences between the infra- and supralateral lungs were conducted on healthy, young, male subjects, without the application of thoracic or abdominal pressure.
This study aimed to assess ventilation distribution in right lateral recumbency in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as healthy individuals, and investigate the impact of thoracic and abdominal manual pressures during ELTGOL on ventilation distribution.
Detailed description
Electrical impedance tomography will be used to verify the effect of the lateral posture and associated breathing techniques in COPD and healthy individuals. The subjects will be placed in a standardised position before the measurements begin. The subjects will be placed in a right lateral recumbency position. The protocol comprises four manoeuvres, each interrupted by a short rest phase. Each subject will begin the experiment with the spontaneous ventilation manoeuvre in order to obtain the reference ventilation distribution. This will be followed by four other manoeuvres during which ventilation was measured: 1) using an spirometer to obtain a tidal volume of 1L, 2) performing the ELTGOL technique independently, 3) performing the ELTGOL technique assisted by manual pressures applied by a physiotherapist. 4) using a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 5
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ELTGOL_Physio | Active comparator | Behavioral: ELTGOL_PhysioELTGOL + Manual pressure of the physiotherapist |
| ELTGOL_Auto | Active comparator | Behavioral: ELTGOL_AutoELTGOL performed autonomously |
| PEP | Active comparator | Device: PEPPositive expiratory pressure (PEP) |
| 1L-Tidal-Breathing | Active comparator | Behavioral: 1L-Tidal-BreathingTidal-breathing of 1 liter per breath |
| Spontaneous Breathing | Active comparator | Behavioral: Spontaneous Breathing |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Healthy subjects: No acute or chronic respiratory disease, normal lung function, non-smoker.
- Patients with COPD: forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) ≤ 80% predicted value, in stable state.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Healthy subjects: obesity (BMI > 35kg/m²); active or former smoker; severe scoliosis; cardiovascular or neuromuscular disease; active implant (cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); thoracic skin lesion.
- Patients with COPD: obesity (BMI > 35kg/m²); severe scoliosis; severe cardiovascular disease; neuromuscular disease; active implant (cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); thoracic skin lesion.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ELTGOL_PhysioThe subject will be asked to slowly exhale with the glottis opened in the right lateral posture. The physiotherapist will accompany the subject by gently applying manual pressure on the chest wall and the abdomen during expiratory phases. | Behavioural | ELTGOL_Physio |
| ELTGOL_AutoThe subject will be asked to slowly exhale with the glottis opened in the right lateral posture. The physiotherapist will not intervene in this arm. | Behavioural | ELTGOL_Auto |
| PEPThe subject will be asked to exhale through a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device (Threshold PEP) while being in the right lateral posture. | Device | PEP |
| 1L-Tidal-BreathingThe subject will be asked to breath with a fixed tidal-breathing of 1 liter per breath (monitored via a spirometer) while being in the right lateral posture. | Behavioural | 1L-Tidal-Breathing |
| Spontaneous BreathingThe subject will be asked to breath spontaneously while being in the right lateral posture. | Behavioural | Spontaneous Breathing |
Primary outcome
Impedance variation using Electrical Impedance Tomography
Time frame: 2 minutes during intervention
Impedance change in the right and left lungs
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Apr 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing ELTGOL_Physio, ELTGOL_Auto and PEP in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Healthy, run by William Poncin, PT, PhD at 1 site in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Impedance variation using Electrical Impedance Tomography (time frame: 2 minutes during intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Apr 2026.