Asthma ChronicDB&PLB/PFTNCT07477080
Breathing Exercises Effect on Lung Functions and Chest Expansion in Asthmatics
A study testing diaphragmatic breathing exercise and pursed lip breathing exercise in people with Asthma Chronic, run by Ain Shams University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
The goal for this clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing and Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises in improving lung functions {the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1- second (FEV1)} and Chest Expansion in Egyptian outpatient adults with bronchial asthma. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Asthma Chronic
- What is being tested?
- diaphragmatic breathing exercise and pursed lip breathing exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 15 Oct 2022to 13 Mar 2024
- 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 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Egyptian adults aged between 18 and 60 years old, both males and females.
- Pulmonary function-based diagnosis for asthma.
- Mild and moderate cases of asthma.
Who cannot join
- Recent myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome.
- Non-cooperative patients.
- Status asthmatics patients.
- Hypoxic patients.
- Asthmatic patients who were associated with other chest and heart diseases.
- Recent pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism.
Show all 15Show fewer
- Large thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Acute onset of hemoptysis.
- Retinal detachment.
- Intracranial hypertension.
- Patients with dementia.
- Recent brain, eye, ear, nose, abdominal or thoracic surgery.
- Severe uncontrolled hypertension.
- Patients with urinary incontinence.
- Currently admitted to intensive care unit.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing and Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises in Improving Lung Functions in Adult Egyptians With Bronchial Asthma: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
The goal for this clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing and Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises in improving lung functions {the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1- second (FEV1)} and Chest Expansion in Egyptian outpatient adults with bronchial asthma.
The research questions were:
Read more
- Are Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises effective in improving lung function parameters?
- Are Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises effective in improving lung function parameters?
- Which of the two studied breathing exercise is more effective in improving lung function parameters?
All the participants were classified into 2 groups:
Group1:
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week).
Group2:
Pursed Lip Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week).
The two main parameters which were assessed initially and after completion of the 2-month exercise program were:
- Lung functions {Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1-second (FEV1)}
- The chest expansion
Read the detailed description
Participants were enrolled from Outpatient Chest Clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals.
After checking for inclusion and exclusion criteria and signing the informed consent form the following was carried out.
After enrollment of the participants from outpatient chest clinic, their education and interviewing were conducted in a private comfortable room near to chest clinic taking the time for discussion, understanding the 2- month training program and practicing the exercises techniques through first visit, bimonthly visits and the last visit. These visits were the same for the two groups with a difference in the exercise technique (explained in detail in a separate paragraph for each group), these visits included:
- First visit:
- Thorough history was carefully taken for proper assessment and exclusion of any patients prone to risks.
- Spirometry based- diagnosis was reviewed.
- Measurement of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1-second (FEV1) and chest expansion. The techniques and steps of peak flowmeter and chest expansion measurements were explained for participants before assessing these parameters.
- The whole exercises technique was explained carefully and video demonstration on laptop was shown for participants to make sure of their understanding (See Appendix 1).
- Every participant practiced the exercise under supervision, and any mistakes were reviewed, and the exercise was repeated till mastering the technique.
- Encouragement of the participants for adherence to exercise program through:
- Explanation of the breathing exercises' benefits to participants which included, increased control over breathing, reduced need for medication, feeling more relaxed, improved health and quality of life and non- respiratory psychological benefits such as decreasing anxiety; these benefits were recorded by previous clinical trials. Regarding the down or up stepping of the asthma medications for the participants, this was completely the chest doctor's responsibility toward their patients.
- Daily self-monitoring sheets regarding days, frequency and duration of exercise should be fulfilled by the participants to improve their compliance motivation, remembering and adherence; the participants were informed about the items in the follow-up sheets to fulfill it properly and were reviewed in the bimonthly follow up visits regularly (See Appendix 2,3).
- WhatsApp group for each arm of the trial for daily follow up monitoring and reinforcement by videos.
- The exercise program and follow up plan were discussed with participants.
- Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
B- Bimonthly Follow up visits (Three follow up visits along the 2-month exercise program):
- The exercise technique was reviewed with the participants to ensure mastering the technique and the participants practiced the exercise in front of the investigator.
- Discussion about the adherence to the training program and any obstacles were reviewed for simplification.
- Reviewing the printed follow up daily sheets.
- Reinforcing and encouragement of participants to maintain the exercise program.
- No measurements were obtained in follow up visits, only in the first visits initially and the last visit after completion of the 2-month exercise program.
C-The last visit:
- Remeasuring of PEFR, FEV1 and chest expansion after the 2-months exercise program.
- Thanking the participants about their exercise program engagement.
- Conditions
- Asthma Chronic
- Being tested
- diaphragmatic breathing exercise, pursed lip breathing exercise
- Keywords
- diaphragmatic breathing exercise, pursed lip expiration exercise, asthma, breathing exercises, pulmonary functions
- Medical subject headings
- Asthma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
diaphragmatic breathing exerciseBehavioural
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Relaxation and comfortable positioning of the participant with full support to back and head and relaxation of the abdominal wall (fowler's position). One hand of the participant placed on the rectus abdominis muscle just inferior to the anterior costal margin and the other hand on chest wall keeping the shoulders relaxed and upper chest quiet during breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose following the abdomen to rise with subsequent slow expiration through pursed lip for three or four times then rest. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session.
pursed lip breathing exerciseBehavioural
Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Closing the mouth while breathing in slowly through the nose for two counts while keeping shoulders and neck relaxed followed by expiration using pursued lips (as if they mimic whistling) for four counts. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise | Experimental | Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Relaxation and comfortable positioning of the participant with full support to back and head and relaxation of the abdominal wall (fowler's position). One hand of the participant placed on the rectus abdominis muscle just inferior to the anterior costal margin and the other hand on chest wall keeping the shoulders relaxed and upper chest quiet during breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose following the abdomen to rise with subsequent slow expiration through pursed lip for three or four times then rest. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session. Receives: Behavioral: diaphragmatic breathing exercise |
| pursed lip breathing exercise group | Experimental | Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Closing the mouth while breathing in slowly through the nose for two counts while keeping shoulders and neck relaxed followed by expiration using pursued lips (as if they mimic whistling) for four counts. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session. Receives: Behavioral: pursed lip breathing exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in FEV1
Changes in FEV1 were compared within each group before and after intervention by the breathing exercises and between the two groups
Measured: 8 weeks
Changes in PEFR
Changes in PEFR were compared within each group before and after intervention by the breathing exercises and between the two groups
Measured: 8 WEEKS
Changes in chest expansion
Changes in chest expansion were compared within each group before and after intervention by the breathing exercises and between the two groups
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Mar 2026
- Study start15 Oct 2022
- Primary completion13 Mar 2024
- Study completion13 Mar 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Asthma ChronicStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ain Shams UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- arm 1: Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). arm 2: Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ain Shams University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, wafaa mohamed qurany, Ain Shams University
- Investigators
- Wafaa M Qurany, Master,Family medicine, Principal investigator, Ain Shams University,Faculty of MedicineMohamed F Allam, MD, Professor, Study director, Ain Shams University,Faculty of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07477080
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FMASU MD 152/2022
- Acronym
- DB&PLB/PFT
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 17 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing and Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises in Improving Lung Functions in Adult Egyptians With Bronchial Asthma: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07477080
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DB&PLB/PFT / FMASU MD 152/2022
- Conditions
- Asthma Chronic
- Keywords
- diaphragmatic breathing exercise, pursed lip expiration exercise, asthma, breathing exercises, pulmonary functions
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ain Shams UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Mar 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 17 Mar 2026 (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.
The goal for this clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing and Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises in improving lung functions {the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1- second (FEV1)} and Chest Expansion in Egyptian outpatient adults with bronchial asthma.
The research questions were:
- Are Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises effective in improving lung function parameters?
- Are Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercises effective in improving lung function parameters?
- Which of the two studied breathing exercise is more effective in improving lung function parameters?
All the participants were classified into 2 groups:
Group1:
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week).
Group2:
Pursed Lip Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week).
The two main parameters which were assessed initially and after completion of the 2-month exercise program were:
- Lung functions {Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1-second (FEV1)}
- The chest expansion
Detailed description
Participants were enrolled from Outpatient Chest Clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals.
After checking for inclusion and exclusion criteria and signing the informed consent form the following was carried out.
After enrollment of the participants from outpatient chest clinic, their education and interviewing were conducted in a private comfortable room near to chest clinic taking the time for discussion, understanding the 2- month training program and practicing the exercises techniques through first visit, bimonthly visits and the last visit. These visits were the same for the two groups with a difference in the exercise technique (explained in detail in a separate paragraph for each group), these visits included:
- First visit:
- Thorough history was carefully taken for proper assessment and exclusion of any patients prone to risks.
- Spirometry based- diagnosis was reviewed.
- Measurement of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1-second (FEV1) and chest expansion. The techniques and steps of peak flowmeter and chest expansion measurements were explained for participants before assessing these parameters.
- The whole exercises technique was explained carefully and video demonstration on laptop was shown for participants to make sure of their understanding (See Appendix 1).
- Every participant practiced the exercise under supervision, and any mistakes were reviewed, and the exercise was repeated till mastering the technique.
- Encouragement of the participants for adherence to exercise program through:
- Explanation of the breathing exercises' benefits to participants which included, increased control over breathing, reduced need for medication, feeling more relaxed, improved health and quality of life and non- respiratory psychological benefits such as decreasing anxiety; these benefits were recorded by previous clinical trials. Regarding the down or up stepping of the asthma medications for the participants, this was completely the chest doctor's responsibility toward their patients.
- Daily self-monitoring sheets regarding days, frequency and duration of exercise should be fulfilled by the participants to improve their compliance motivation, remembering and adherence; the participants were informed about the items in the follow-up sheets to fulfill it properly and were reviewed in the bimonthly follow up visits regularly (See Appendix 2,3).
- WhatsApp group for each arm of the trial for daily follow up monitoring and reinforcement by videos.
- The exercise program and follow up plan were discussed with participants.
- Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
B- Bimonthly Follow up visits (Three follow up visits along the 2-month exercise program):
- The exercise technique was reviewed with the participants to ensure mastering the technique and the participants practiced the exercise in front of the investigator.
- Discussion about the adherence to the training program and any obstacles were reviewed for simplification.
- Reviewing the printed follow up daily sheets.
- Reinforcing and encouragement of participants to maintain the exercise program.
- No measurements were obtained in follow up visits, only in the first visits initially and the last visit after completion of the 2-month exercise program.
C-The last visit:
- Remeasuring of PEFR, FEV1 and chest expansion after the 2-months exercise program.
- Thanking the participants about their exercise program engagement.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- arm 1: Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). arm 2: Pursed-Lip Expiration Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: diaphragmatic breathing exerciseDiaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Relaxation and comfortable positioning of the participant with full support to back and head and relaxation of the abdominal wall (fowler's position). One hand of the participant placed on the rectus abdominis muscle just inferior to the anterior costal margin and the other hand on chest wall keeping the shoulders relaxed and upper chest quiet during breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose following the abdomen to rise with subsequent slow expiration through pursed lip for three or four times then rest. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session. |
| pursed lip breathing exercise group | Experimental | Behavioral: pursed lip breathing exercisePursed-Lip Expiration Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Closing the mouth while breathing in slowly through the nose for two counts while keeping shoulders and neck relaxed followed by expiration using pursued lips (as if they mimic whistling) for four counts. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Egyptian adults aged between 18 and 60 years old, both males and females.
- Pulmonary function-based diagnosis for asthma.
- Mild and moderate cases of asthma.
Key exclusion criteria (15 listed)
- Recent myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome.
- Non-cooperative patients.
- Status asthmatics patients.
- Hypoxic patients.
- Asthmatic patients who were associated with other chest and heart diseases.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| diaphragmatic breathing exerciseDiaphragmatic Breathing Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Relaxation and comfortable positioning of the participant with full support to back and head and relaxation of the abdominal wall (fowler's position). One hand of the participant placed on the rectus abdominis muscle just inferior to the anterior costal margin and the other hand on chest wall keeping the shoulders relaxed and upper chest quiet during breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose following the abdomen to rise with subsequent slow expiration through pursed lip for three or four times then rest. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session. | Behavioural | Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise |
| pursed lip breathing exercisePursed-Lip Expiration Exercise training was offered for participants to complete the 8-weeks exercise program (each session lasted about 20 minutes twice daily for 5 days per week). Closing the mouth while breathing in slowly through the nose for two counts while keeping shoulders and neck relaxed followed by expiration using pursued lips (as if they mimic whistling) for four counts. Three or four sets were applied in 20 minutes exercising session. | Behavioural | pursed lip breathing exercise group |
Primary outcome
Changes in FEV1
Time frame: 8 weeks
Changes in FEV1 were compared within each group before and after intervention by the breathing exercises and between the two groups
Changes in PEFR
Time frame: 8 WEEKS
Changes in PEFR were compared within each group before and after intervention by the breathing exercises and between the two groups
Changes in chest expansion
Time frame: 8 weeks
Changes in chest expansion were compared within each group before and after intervention by the breathing exercises and between the two groups
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 17 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Wafaa M Qurany, Master,Family medicine principal investigator
Ain Shams University,Faculty of Medicine
Mohamed F Allam, MD, Professor study director
Ain Shams University,Faculty of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing diaphragmatic breathing exercise and pursed lip breathing exercise in people with Asthma Chronic, run by Ain Shams University at 1 site in Egypt.
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 3 inclusion and 15 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 17 Mar 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 Egypt. 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?
Changes in FEV1 (time frame: 8 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 17 Mar 2026.