Investigating how breathing affects pain processing
Potential Influences of Respiration Patterns on Experimental Pain Sensitization
This study is testing whether different breathing patterns can change how healthy people feel pain when exposed to heat.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Balgrist University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zürich) |
| Trial ID | NCT06169917 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to explore the relationship between breathing patterns and the processing of pain in healthy individuals. Participants will undergo heat stimuli while their breathing rates are manipulated to assess how this influences pain sensitivity and spinal excitability. The study will measure various physiological responses, including heart rate and respiratory rate, alongside questionnaires to gather subjective data. The goal is to determine if specific breathing techniques can alter pain perception and autonomic nervous system responses.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 18 to 40 who can provide informed consent.
Not a fit: Patients with chronic pain conditions or significant medical issues may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to new non-pharmacological approaches for managing pain.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of this study may be novel, similar studies have shown that breathing techniques can influence pain perception.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. over 18 and below 40 years of age 2. good general health 3. able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. any major medical or psychiatric condition (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, major depressive disorder), any chronic pain condition, any respiratory problems, any current acute pain at time of study 2. inability to follow study instructions, e.g. due to language problems 3. Consumption of alcohol, drugs, analgesics within the last 24 h 4. Consumption of no more than 100 mg of caffeine within the last 8 h 5. Scar tissue or generally reduced sensitivity in the designated testing site areas Additional exclusion criteria for experiments 3 and 4 1. Shoe size \< 38 2. Restless-Legs-Syndrome
Where this trial is running
Zürich
- University Hospital Balgrist, University Zürich — Zürich, Switzerland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Petra Schweinhardt, Prof. Dr. med
- Email: petra.schweinhardt@balgrist.ch
- Phone: +41 44 510 73 81
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.