An interventional study of Abdominal Air Pressure Resistance Training and Abdominal Weight Training (AWT) in Diaphragm Thickness and Dyspnoea, sponsored by University of Sharjah. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United Arab Emirates. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by University of Sharjah · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to compare the effects of abdominal air pressure resistance training, abdominal weight training, and breathing exercises on diaphragmatic strength, endurance, and physiological responses in young healthy adults.
Forty-two healthy adults aged 18-35 years will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: abdominal air pressure resistance training, abdominal weight training, or breathing exercises. Participants will complete supervised training sessions three times per week for eight weeks, with standardized breathing cadence, training volume, and therapist contact time across groups.
This trial will provide the first direct comparison of a programmable pneumatic abdominal loading method with traditional abdominal weight loading and standard breathing exercises in healthy young adults. The findings will help determine the relative effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of these interventions for enhancing diaphragmatic function. The results may contribute to the development of evidence-based respiratory muscle training strategies for rehabilitation, health promotion, and performance enhancement.
894 studies on the registry are indexed under Dyspnea; 189 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 42 is below the median of 50 across 587 interventional studies indexed under Dyspnea.
Browse Dyspnea studies →University of Sharjah is the lead sponsor of 42 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
In the AAPR group, resisted diaphragmatic breathing will be performed using a pneumatic abdominal garment or cuff capable of delivering quantifiable air pressure. The abdominal binder was securely fitted around the participant's waist, while the manual sphygmomanometer cuff was positioned vertically over the epigastric region within the abdominal binder. The cuff was inflated to provide external resistance during diaphragmatic breathing. Care was taken to ensure that the cuff and binder did not exert excessive compression over the lower thoracic region or diaphragm, thereby avoiding mechanical restriction of diaphragmatic excursion and allowing participants to maintain their normal, unrestricted diaphragmatic breathing pattern throughout the intervention. Training will begin at a pressure eliciting moderate perceived breathing effort (Borg RPE) or within a predefined range of 5-10 cmH₂O. Pressure will be increased based on Borg exertion level of 5-7, provided symptom and tolerance cri
Other: Abdominal Air Pressure Resistance Training
The AWT group will perform resisted diaphragmatic breathing with a 3-5 kg sandbag positioned over the abdomen while lying in the supine position. Participants will be instructed to perform diaphragmatic breathing, allowing the abdomen to rise during inspiration and fall during expiration while minimizing chest movement. The sandbag load will be individually adjusted for each participant according to a perceived exertion level of 11-13 on the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Training duration, number of sets and rest periods will be matched with AAPR group to have uniformity across the group.
Other: Abdominal Weight Training (AWT)
In the BE control group, standardized diaphragmatic breathing combined with paced slow deep breathing will be performed without the application of external resistance. Training duration, breathing cadence, number of sets, and rest intervals will be matched to those used in the loaded intervention groups. Perceived exertion and symptom responses will be documented during each session
Other: Breathing Exercise Control (BE)
In the AAPR group, resisted diaphragmatic breathing will be performed using a pneumatic abdominal garment or cuff capable of delivering quantifiable air pressure. The abdominal binder was securely fitted around the participant's waist, while the manual sphygmomanometer cuff was positioned vertically over the epigastric region within the abdominal binder. The cuff was inflated to provide external resistance during diaphragmatic breathing. Care was taken to ensure that the cuff and binder did not exert excessive compression over the lower thoracic region or diaphragm, thereby avoiding mechanical restriction of diaphragmatic excursion and allowing participants to maintain their normal, unrestricted diaphragmatic breathing pattern throughout the intervention. Training will begin at a pressure eliciting moderate perceived breathing effort (Borg RPE) or within a predefined range of 5-10 cmH₂O. Pressure will be increased based on Borg exertion level of 5-7.
In the AWT group, diaphragmatic breathing will be performed with an external load applied to the anterior abdominal wall using a standardized sandbag or weight pack, with participants positioned in supine crook-lying. Load prescription will be implemented using a pre-specified method, which included either a fixed initial load of 2-5 kg with weekly increments of 0.5-1 kg as tolerated, an initial load corresponding to 3-5% of body mass with weekly progression, or load titration based on perceived exertion targeting a Borg RPE of 4-5 during training sets. Training volume, set duration, and rest intervals will be matched to those of the AAPR group. For each session, the load applied, perceived exertion, and symptom responses will be documented.
In the BE control group, standardized diaphragmatic breathing combined with paced slow deep breathing will be performed without the application of external resistance. Training duration, breathing cadence, number of sets, and rest intervals will be matched to those used in the loaded intervention groups. Perceived exertion and symptom responses will be documented during each session.
Diaphragm thickening fraction
Diaphragm thickness will be assessed using a portable ultrasound device (VERSANA PREMIER) operating in B-mode with a 10-MHz linear transducer. Standardized imaging settings, including gain, depth, and focus, were maintained throughout all examinations. Ultrasound measurements were conducted by a trained assessor who was blinded to participants' group assignments. With participants positioned supine, the transducer was placed over the right hemidiaphragm at the zone of apposition, located between the anterior and mid-axillary lines at the eighth to ninth intercostal space. Care was taken to apply minimal pressure with the probe to prevent compression of underlying tissues. Diaphragm thickness measurements were obtained at end-expiration, corresponding to residual volume (RV), and at end-inspiration, corresponding to total lung capacity (TLC). Each measurement was repeated three times with a minimum rest period of 30 seconds between trials, and the mean value was used for analysis.
Time frame: baseline and at 8 weeks
Maximal inspiratory pressure
MIP will be measured using a calibrated respiratory pressure manometer in the supported sitting position. Participants will exhale to residual volume and perform maximal inspiration against an occluded airway. At least three maneuvers will be performed with ≥30 seconds rest, and the highest reproducible value will be recorded in cmH₂O.
Time frame: baseline and at 8 weeks
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for Mar 2027, 4 months later.
Of 266 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Dyspnea, half reached primary completion within 13 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 28. This study's planned 4 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 282 studies reached it within 13 months; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 28.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Nov 3, 2026: start Aug 2026 → Nov 2026, primary completion Nov 2026 → Mar 2027 and completion Nov 2026 → Mar 2027.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Sharjah