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Allergic RhinitisNCT07455968

Free Diving Breathing Training in Allergic Rhinitis

A study testing Free diving breathing training in people with Allergic Rhinitis, run by Chulalongkorn University at 1 site in Thailand.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diver-style breathing training on symptoms, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle, in patients with allergic rhinitis. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 35 years
Conditions the study is for
Allergic Rhinitis
What is being tested?
Free diving breathing training
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteThailand
Study dates
1 Aug 2025to 30 Mar 2026
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 18 to 35 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients diagnosed with persistent allergic rhinitis (allergen of any type), both male and female, presenting with nasal congestion, sneezing, nasal itching, and rhinorrhea occurring more than 4 days per week, with an average symptom score greater than 7. Eligibility was determined using the Rhinitis Symptoms Score (0, 1, 2, and ≥3 scale) assessed over the previous week and on the day of testing. Participants must not have any complications such as sinusitis, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or asthma.
  • No history of other respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, pertussis, pneumonia, pneumonitis, pulmonary aspergilloma, tuberculosis, asthma, lung cancer, emphysema, or other related conditions.
  • No regular exercise training exceeding 20 minutes per session, 3 days per week or more, during the 6 months prior to participation.
  • No regular consumption of vitamin supplements or herbal products at least 3 days per week during the 6 months prior to participation.
  • Ability to discontinue the following medications before and during the study period: Antihistamines for at least 3 days, Oral steroids and nasal steroids for at least 2 weeks, Leukotriene receptor antagonists for at least 1 week
  • Participants were permitted to use decongestants (pseudoephedrine) if necessary. All participants were advised to consult their primary physician before discontinuing any medication and to ensure that their physical condition was appropriate for participation in the breathing training program.
  • Willingness to participate voluntarily and provide written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Inability to continue participation due to unforeseen circumstances, such as injury or illness.
  • Absence from more than 8 training sessions out of a total of 40 sessions.
  • Withdrawal of consent or unwillingness to continue participation.
  • Inability to discontinue medications according to the specified criteria.
  • Exacerbation of allergic rhinitis symptoms that prevents continued participation, such as persistent rhinorrhea or severe nasal congestion causing difficulty breathing.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Thailand1 site
  • Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University

    Bangkok, Bangkok, 10330

Other trials in Thailand

About this study

Official title: Effects of Free Diving Breathing Training on Symptoms in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diver-style breathing training on symptoms, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle, in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Read the detailed description

This study aims to investigate the effects of diver-style breathing training in patients with allergic rhinitis. A total of 30 patients aged 18-35 years were recruited from students and staff of Chulalongkorn University, as well as patients attending the Chulalongkorn University Health Service Center and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group (n = 15) that received diver-style breathing training and a control group (n = 15) that continued their usual daily activities without any exercise intervention.

The independent variable was diver-style breathing training. The dependent variables included rhinitis symptom outcomes (symptom scores, Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow, nasal blood flow, and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide), pulmonary function parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, MVV, and breath-holding time), and respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP).

Being tested
Free diving breathing training
Keywords
Free diving breathing, Allergic rhinitis, Rhinitis symptoms, Pulmonary function, Respiratory muscle strength
Medical subject headings
Rhinitis, Allergic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Free diving breathing trainingOther

    The diver-style breathing training program lasts 40 minutes per session. Participants sit upright with proper posture and begin with 5 minutes of normal breathing. They then perform a progressive deep inhalation technique: inhaling through the nose to expand the abdomen, continuing to expand the chest, and finally inhaling further until a sensation of throat tightness is felt. The breath is then held for at least 20 seconds or as long as possible before exhaling through the mouth. Each cycle counts as one round, and participants aim to gradually increase their breath-holding duration over 30 minutes. The session ends with 5 minutes of normal breathing.

Study groups in NCT07455968
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Free diving breathing trainingExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Free diving breathing training
Control group (Normal daily life)No interventionNot described

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Rhinitis symptom scores

    Nasal symptoms were assessed using Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) questionnaire. The subjects were asked to score symptoms of persistent allergic rhinitis before and after yoga training protocol. The total nasal symptom scores were computed as the sum of four individual nasal symptom scores; nasal congestion, itching, sneezing, and rhinorrhea. The scores ranged from 0 to 3 scale (0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3= severe)

    Measured: Change from Baseline Rhinitis symptom scores at 8 weeks.

  2. Peak nasal inspiratory flow; PNIF

    Participants were instructed to inhale through the device as quickly and forcefully as possible using a Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) meter.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  3. Nasal blood flow

    Laser Doppler flowmetry (DRT4, Moor Instruments, UK) was used to measure the NBF. Before the test, each subject rested for 1 hour in a separate room. During the test, the participants were instructed to breathe normally and not to speak, cough, or move. A lateral endoscopic probe with a flexible 1.34-mm-diameter flexible nylon sheath was placed on the front of the nose.

    Measured: Change from Baseline Rhinitis symptom scores at 8 weeks.

  4. Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Testing; FeNO

    FeNO Monitor (BedFont, UK) was used to measure the FeNO. The participants inhaled deeply for 2 to 3 seconds before exhaling slowly, which normally took 10 seconds.

    Measured: Change from Baseline Rhinitis symptom scores at 8 weeks.

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Forced Vital Capacity; FVC

    Participants were seated in a chair and wore a nasal clip during the assessment. They first performed three cycles of slow, normal breathing, followed by a demonstration of forced inspiration and expiration, and then returned to normal breathing.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  2. Forced Expiratory Volume in one second; FEV1

    Participants were seated in a chair and wore a nasal clip during the assessment. They first performed three cycles of slow, normal breathing, followed by a demonstration of forced inspiration and expiration, and then returned to normal breathing.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  3. Forced Expiratory Flow at 25-75% of FVC; FEF25 - 75 %

    Participants were seated in a chair and wore a nasal clip during the assessment. They first performed three cycles of slow, normal breathing, followed by a demonstration of forced inspiration and expiration, and then returned to normal breathing.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  4. Maximum Voluntary Ventilation; MVV

    Participants were instructed to breathe in and out as quickly and forcefully as possible for 15 seconds.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  5. Breath Holding Time Test

    Participants were instructed to inhale as deeply as possible, hold their breath for as long as possible, and then exhale through the mouth.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  6. Maximal Inspiratory Pressure; MIP

    Participants were instructed to exhale fully to functional residual capacity (FRC), then place the mouthpiece securely and perform a maximal inspiratory effort sustained for 1-2 seconds.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

  7. Maximal expiratory pressure; MEP

    Participants inhaled fully to total lung capacity (TLC), maintained a tight seal on the mouthpiece, and then performed a maximal expiratory effort for 1-2 seconds.

    Measured: Change from Baseline respiratory muscle strength at 8 weeks.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Mar 2026
  2. Study start1 Aug 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Mar 2026
  4. Study completion30 Mar 2026

Resources

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
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
30 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07455968
Sponsor's protocol ID
Ex Physio SPSC 12
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
3 Mar 2026
Last updated
8 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Ostrowski A, Strzala M, Stanula A, Juszkiewicz M, Pilch W, Maszczyk A. The role of training in the development of adaptive mechanisms in freedivers. J Hum Kinet. 2012 May;32:197-210. doi: 10.2478/v10078-012-0036-2. Epub 2012 May 30.

    PubMed 23487544
  • Leelarungrayub J, Puntumetakul R, Sriboonreung T, Pothasak Y, Klaphajone J. Preliminary study: comparative effects of lung volume therapy between slow and fast deep-breathing techniques on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, oxidative stress, cytokines, 6-minute walking distance, and quality of life in persons with COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018 Dec 5;13:3909-3921. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S181428. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 30584292
  • Desai MB, Gavrilova T, Liu J, Patel SA, Kartan S, Greco SJ, Capitle E, Rameshwar P. Pollen-induced antigen presentation by mesenchymal stem cells and T cells from allergic rhinitis. Clin Transl Immunology. 2013 Oct 18;2(10):e7. doi: 10.1038/cti.2013.9. eCollection 2013 Oct.

    PubMed 25505949
  • Diniz CM, Farias TL, Pereira MC, Pires CB, Goncalves LS, Coertjens PC, Coertjens M. Chronic adaptations of lung function in breath-hold diving fishermen. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2014 Apr;27(2):216-23. doi: 10.2478/s13382-014-0259-7. Epub 2014 Apr 3.

    PubMed 24700159
  • Dykewicz MS, Wallace DV, Baroody F, Bernstein J, Craig T, Finegold I, Huang F, Larenas-Linnemann D, Meltzer E, Steven G, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Dinakar C, Greenhawt M, Horner CC, Khan DA, Lang D, Oppenheimer J, Portnoy JM, Randolph CR, Rank MA; Workgroup Chair and Cochair; Dykewicz MS, Wallace DV. Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: An evidence-based focused 2017 guideline update. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017 Dec;119(6):489-511.e41. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.08.012. Epub 2017 Nov 2. No abstract available.

    PubMed 29103802
  • Borg M, Thastrup T, Larsen KL, Overgaard K, Hilberg O, Lokke A. Free diving-inspired breathing techniques for COPD patients: A pilot study. Chron Respir Dis. 2021 Jan-Dec;18:14799731211038673. doi: 10.1177/14799731211038673.

    PubMed 34399604

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Free diving breathing training in people with Allergic Rhinitis, run by Chulalongkorn University at 1 site in Thailand.

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 7 inclusion and 5 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 8 Oct 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 Thailand. 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?

Rhinitis symptom scores (time frame: Change from Baseline Rhinitis symptom scores at 8 weeks.). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07455968, which also lists 6 linked publications.

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 8 Oct 2026.

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