Daily breathing exercises to reduce stress in physical therapy students

The Effects of Practicing Daily Polyvagal Exercises for Four Weeks on Stress in Students of Physical Therapy Measured: a Randomized Controlled Trial

NA · Dominican University New York · NCT06557083

This study is testing if daily breathing exercises can help reduce stress in physical therapy students at Dominican University.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment30 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 45 Years
SexAll
SponsorDominican University New York (other)
Locations1 site (Orangeburg, New York)
Trial IDNCT06557083 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the impact of daily polyvagal breathing exercises on stress levels in healthy physical therapy students at Dominican University New York. Participants aged 18-45 will be divided into an experimental group, which will practice these exercises for 30 days, and a control group that will not receive any intervention. Stress and anxiety levels will be measured using non-invasive EEG recordings and surveys at three intervals: baseline, day fifteen, and day thirty. The goal is to determine if the breathing exercises can effectively lower stress compared to the control group.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy physical therapy students aged 18-45 who are not on any anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications.

Not a fit: Patients currently taking medications for anxiety or depression may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a simple, non-pharmacological method for reducing stress and anxiety in students.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of polyvagal breathing exercises is relatively novel, similar studies on breathing techniques and stress reduction have shown promising results.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Student of physical therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Taking medications to treat anxiety or depression

Where this trial is running

Orangeburg, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Stress, Anxiety

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.