Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training Added to a Swimming Program in Children With Asthma

NCT07394127 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025/024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of adding inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to a structured swimming program on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, ventilatory capacity, perceived exertion, and asthma control in children with mild persistent asthma. Thirty children aged 8-11 years were randomly assigned to either a swimming plus IMT group or a swimming-only group. Both groups participated in a supervised 4-week swimming program, while the experimental group additionally performed IMT twice daily. Pulmonary function tests, respiratory muscle strength, and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) scores were assessed before and after the intervention.

Conditions

Asthma Chronic; Asthma Control; Asthma

Keywords

asthma control; pulmonary function; swimming; inspiratory muscle training; children; asthma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)

  Measured using a handheld respiratory pressure device to assess inspiratory muscle strength.

  4 weeks

• Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV₁)

  Assessed via spirometry to evaluate pulmonary function. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) was measured using the spirometry method to assess lung function. FEV₁ values were reported as a percentage of the predicted value (% predicted) based on reference values. While there is no theoretical minimum or maximum limit for the measurement, higher FEV₁ values indicate better pulmonary function.

  4 weeks

• Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) Score

  Validated questionnaire assessing asthma symptom control in children. The Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) is a self-report questionnaire used to assess the level of asthma symptom control in children over the past 4 weeks, with proven validity and reliability. The total scale score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating better asthma control.

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Rating of Perceived Exertion (Borg Scale)

  4 week

• Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV)

  4 week

• Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)

  4 week

• Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

  4 week

Study Arms (2)

Swimming Training Only (Control Group)

OTHER

Participants completed a supervised swimming training program for 4 weeks, consisting of three 60-minute sessions per week. Sessions included warm-up, main swimming exercises, and cool-down breathing exercises. Exercise intensity was maintained at approximately 65% of maximal heart rate.

Other: Swimming Training Only (Control Group); Other: Swimming + Inspiratory Muscle Training (Experimental Group)

Swimming + Inspiratory Muscle Training (Experimental Group)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed the same swimming training program as the control group. In addition, inspiratory muscle training was performed using a threshold pressure-loading device. IMT was conducted twice daily, starting at 30% of maximal inspiratory pressure and progressively increased by 5% weekly, over a 4-week period.

Other: Swimming Training Only (Control Group); Other: Swimming + Inspiratory Muscle Training (Experimental Group)

Interventions

Swimming + Inspiratory Muscle Training (Experimental Group) OTHER

Participants completed the same swimming training program as the control group. In addition, inspiratory muscle training was performed using a threshold pressure-loading device. IMT was conducted twice daily, starting at 30% of maximal inspiratory pressure and progressively increased by 5% weekly, over a 4-week period.

Swimming + Inspiratory Muscle Training (Experimental Group); Swimming Training Only (Control Group)

Swimming Training Only (Control Group) OTHER

Participants completed a supervised swimming training program for 4 weeks, consisting of three 60-minute sessions per week. Sessions included warm-up, main swimming exercises, and cool-down breathing exercises. Exercise intensity was maintained at approximately 65% of maximal heart rate.

Swimming + Inspiratory Muscle Training (Experimental Group); Swimming Training Only (Control Group)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years - 11 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children aged 8-11 years
• Clinically diagnosed mild persistent asthma according to GINA guidelines
• Baseline FEV₁ ≥ 80% predicted
• Stable asthma treatment for at least 4 weeks
• Written informed consent from parents or guardians

You may not qualify if:

• Mild intermittent, moderate, or severe persistent asthma
• Acute asthma exacerbation during the study
• Other chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, or neuromuscular diseases
• Recent upper respiratory tract infection
• Use of medications affecting pulmonary function other than standard asthma therapy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gümüşhane Universıty: lead

Study Sites (1)

Gumushane Univetsity

Gümüşhane, Trabzon, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Artvin, Gümüşhane, 29600, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asthma

Interventions

Control Groups; Swimming

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods; Locomotion; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Exercise; Motor Activity

Study Officials

• Coşkun YILMAZ, associate professor

  Gümüşhane Universıty

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director

Model Details: Intervention Model Parallel Assignment

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2026
• First Posted: February 6, 2026
• Study Start: January 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 25, 2025
• Study Completion: February 28, 2025
• Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)