Elastic-Band Resistance and Breathing Training for Older Adults With Pulmonary Function Impairment

NCT07612072 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: BeijingSU
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 75
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether elastic-band resistance training, with or without breathing training, can improve lung function and physical function in older adults with pulmonary function impairment living in the community. It will also learn about the safety and feasibility of these exercise programs. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does elastic-band resistance training improve lung function, lower-limb muscle strength, walking ability, and exercise tolerance? Does adding structured breathing training to elastic-band resistance training provide additional benefits for lung function and respiratory-related health status? Are these exercise programs safe and acceptable for older adults in a community setting? Researchers will compare three groups: elastic-band resistance training plus breathing training, elastic-band resistance training alone, and usual health education. This will help determine whether elastic-band resistance training is helpful and whether breathing training adds extra benefit. Participants will: Take part in a 12-week study Be assigned by chance to one of three groups Attend supervised exercise sessions 3 times per week if assigned to an exercise group Receive usual health education and daily activity guidance Complete lung function tests, muscle strength tests, physical function tests, and questionnaires at the start of the study, at 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks

Conditions

Respiration Disorders

Keywords

Pulmonary Function Impairment; Elastic-Band Resistance Training; Older Adults; Pulmonary Function; Breathing Training; Exercise Intervention; Respiratory Health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

• Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio From Baseline to Week 12

  The FEV1/FVC ratio was calculated from standardized spirometry results. The change from baseline to Week 12 was used to evaluate airflow limitation. Higher values generally indicate better pulmonary function.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second From Baseline to Week 12

  Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was measured using standardized spirometry. The change from baseline to Week 12 was used to evaluate improvement in pulmonary function. Higher values indicate better lung function.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in Forced Vital Capacity From Baseline to Week 12

  Forced vital capacity (FVC) was measured using standardized spirometry. The change from baseline to Week 12 was used to evaluate improvement in pulmonary function. Higher values indicate better lung function.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in FEV1 Z-Score From Baseline to Week 12

  FEV1 z-score was calculated using reference equations to standardize pulmonary function according to age, sex, height, and ethnicity. The change from baseline to Week 12 was used to evaluate standardized improvement in pulmonary function. Higher z-scores indicate better lung function.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in FVC Z-Score From Baseline to Week 12

  FVC z-score was calculated using reference equations to standardize pulmonary function according to age, sex, height, and ethnicity. The change from baseline to Week 12 was used to evaluate standardized improvement in pulmonary function. Higher z-scores indicate better lung function.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in FEV1/FVC Z-Score From Baseline to Week 12

  FEV1/FVC z-score was calculated using reference equations to standardize the ratio according to age, sex, height, and ethnicity. The change from baseline to Week 12 was used to evaluate standardized change in airflow limitation. Higher z-scores indicate better pulmonary function.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in 30-Second Chair Stand Test Performance From Baseline to Week 12

  The 30-second chair stand test was used to assess repeated sit-to-stand ability. Participants were asked to complete as many full sit-to-stand repetitions as possible within 30 seconds. Higher values indicate better lower-limb functional performance.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in 4-Meter Gait Speed From Baseline to Week 12

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

  The 4-meter gait speed test was used to assess usual walking ability. Participants walked a fixed 4-meter distance at their usual comfortable speed. Higher values indicate better walking performance.

• Change in 2-Minute Step Test Performance From Baseline to Week 12

  The 2-minute step test was used to assess short-duration exercise tolerance. Participants stepped in place for 2 minutes, and the number of valid steps reaching the required knee height was recorded. Higher values indicate better exercise tolerance.

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Change in Dominant-Side Quadriceps Strength From Baseline to Week 12

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in Non-Dominant-Side Quadriceps Strength From Baseline to Week 12

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in Dominant-Side Triceps Surae Strength From Baseline to Week 12

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in Non-Dominant-Side Triceps Surae Strength From Baseline to Week 12

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

• Change in Timed Up and Go Test Performance From Baseline to Week 12

  Baseline, Week 6, and Week 12

Study Arms (3)

Elastic-Band Resistance Training Plus Breathing Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm received supervised elastic-band resistance training combined with structured breathing training for 12 weeks, in addition to usual health education. The elastic-band resistance training was performed 3 times per week and included warm-up, progressive resistance exercises targeting upper-limb, lower-limb, and trunk-related functional movements, and cool-down. Training intensity was monitored using the OMNI-RES perceived exertion scale and adjusted according to movement quality and participant tolerance. The breathing training included breathing trainer-based practice, diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, rhythmic breathing, and breathing control exercises. Participants also received daily activity guidance and health education.

Behavioral: Elastic-Band Resistance Training Plus Breathing Training; Behavioral: Elastic-Band Resistance Training

Elastic-Band Resistance Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm received supervised elastic-band resistance training for 12 weeks, in addition to usual health education. The training was performed 3 times per week and included warm-up, progressive elastic-band resistance exercises, and cool-down. Exercises targeted upper-limb, lower-limb, and trunk-related functional movement patterns. Training intensity was monitored using the OMNI-RES perceived exertion scale and adjusted according to participant tolerance and movement quality. No structured breathing training was provided in this arm.

Behavioral: Elastic-Band Resistance Training

Usual Health Education

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm did not receive systematic exercise training. They received usual health education and daily activity guidance, including general lifestyle advice, basic physical activity recommendations, and safety instructions. Participants completed the same study assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.

Interventions

Elastic-Band Resistance Training Plus Breathing Training BEHAVIORAL

Supervised elastic-band resistance training plus structured breathing training for 12 weeks. Participants trained 3 times per week in a community health service setting. Resistance training included warm-up, progressive elastic-band exercises, and cool-down, targeting upper-limb, lower-limb, and trunk-related functional movements. Intensity was monitored using the OMNI-RES scale and adjusted according to tolerance and movement quality. Breathing training included breathing trainer practice, diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, rhythmic breathing, and breathing control. Usual health education was also provided.

Elastic-Band Resistance Training Plus Breathing Training

Elastic-Band Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

Supervised elastic-band resistance training for 12 weeks. Participants trained 3 times per week in a community health service setting. Each session included warm-up, progressive elastic-band resistance exercises, and cool-down. Exercises targeted upper-limb, lower-limb, and trunk-related functional movements. Intensity was monitored using the OMNI-RES scale and adjusted according to tolerance and movement quality. Usual health education was also provided. No structured breathing training was provided.

Elastic-Band Resistance Training; Elastic-Band Resistance Training Plus Breathing Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 60 to 85 years
• Pulmonary function impairment identified by community-based spirometry screening
• Community-dwelling older adults
• Able to communicate and walk independently
• Willing to participate in the 12-week intervention and all study assessments
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Acute or unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, or severe musculoskeletal disease that made exercise training unsafe
• Recent acute exacerbation, surgery, severe infection, or other health event that could affect safe participation
• Significant cognitive impairment, communication disorder, or inability to cooperate with training or assessments
• Currently receiving systematic pulmonary rehabilitation or regular structured exercise training that could affect the intervention effect
• Unable to meet spirometry quality-control requirements
• Unable to complete key baseline outcome assessments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beijing Sport University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Huayuan Road Community Health Service Center, Haidian District, Beijing

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100084, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Respiration Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Chuyuan Qiao, Master

CONTACT

+86-13801107617; xiaosadashuai@163.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Because of the nature of the exercise intervention, participants and intervention providers were not masked to group allocation. Outcome assessors were masked to group assignment during follow-up assessments. Data analysts used coded group labels during the main statistical analysis whenever possible. Participants were instructed not to disclose their group assignment to the assessors.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three parallel groups: elastic-band resistance training plus breathing training, elastic-band resistance training alone, or usual health education.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2026
• First Posted: May 28, 2026
• Study Start: June 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 16, 2026
• Last Updated: June 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)