Blowing-balloon exercises to improve breathing and quality of life in obese children
Effects of Blowing Balloon Therapy on Pulmonary Function, Dyspnea and Quality of Life in Obese Children
This project will see if regular blowing-balloon exercises improve lung function, reduce breathlessness, and boost quality of life for obese children aged 6–12 with mild to moderate shortness of breath.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 38 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Riphah International University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) |
| Trial ID | NCT07576478 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 38 obese children (BMI ≥30) aged 6–12 with mild to moderate dyspnea who will be assigned to either a blowing-balloon therapy group or a control group performing splint running over a 10-month period. Pulmonary function will be measured by spirometry (FVC and FEV1), dyspnea will be screened with the Borg RPE scale, and quality-of-life measures will be collected at baseline and follow-up. Recruitment and interventions are planned at several hospitals and affiliated schools in Lahore, with data analyzed using SPSS version 20. Children with recent respiratory infections, chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease, or conditions that contraindicate exercise will be excluded.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are ambulatory obese children aged 6–12 with a BMI of 30 or higher who report mild to moderate dyspnea (RPE 8–14) and have no recent respiratory infection or chronic cardiopulmonary or neuromuscular contraindications.
Not a fit: Children with recent asthma exacerbations or respiratory infections, chronic cardiac or serious lung disease, non-ambulatory status, or other exercise contraindications are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could offer a low-cost, home-friendly way to improve breathing, reduce shortness of breath, and enhance daily functioning for obese children.
How similar studies have performed: Related breathing-exercise programs and incentive-based respiratory training have shown modest improvements in pediatric lung function and dyspnea, but direct evidence specifically for balloon-blowing is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Obese children having 30 or greater than 30 BMI * Age: 6 to 12 years . * Children with atleast light to moderate intensity dyspnea (RPE 8-14) Exclusion Criteria: * Recent asthma exacerbation or respiratory infection in the past 4 weeks. * Other chronic respiratory (e.g. cystic fibrosis) or cardiac diseases. * Musculoskeletal, neurological, or other conditions that contraindicate exercise. * Non-ambulatory status or inability to perform the exercise protocol
Where this trial is running
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Paraplegic Center — Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: aruba saeed, phd — Riphah International University
- Study coordinator: imran amjad, phd
- Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk
- Phone: 3324390125
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.