Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)NCT07518472
Additional Effects of Box Breathing Technique With Short Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Dyspnea and Functional Capacity in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A study testing Short term Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation in people with Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD), run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is progressive and irreversible respiratory condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation leading to dyspnea and reduced functional capacity. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)
- What is being tested?
- Short term Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 28 Feb 2026to 15 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 40-65 years
- Both genders (male and female)
- Grade 1-3 on mMRC scale of dyspnea
- COPD mild stage according to global initiative for chronic obstructive lung -disease (GOLD) classification; Mild = FEV1 greater than or equal to 80% predicted
Who cannot join
- Patients having acute exerbation of COPD
- Patients diagnosed with acute infection (pmeumonia, T.B)
- Any orthopedic or neuromuscular condition that hinders participation in exercise training program
- Patients unable to follow command and instructions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Foundation University Islamabad
Islamabad
Zara Khalid, PhD, +92333-5415822, zara.khalid@fui.edu.pk
About this study
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is progressive and irreversible respiratory condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation leading to dyspnea and reduced functional capacity.
Pulmonary rehabilitation along with different technqiues of breathing exercises reduces dyspnea and enhance functional capacity by improving ventilatory efficiency, respiratory muscle control and overall exercise tolerance in patients with COPD.
Read the detailed description
Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease is a progressive and irreversible respiratory condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation leading to dyspnea and reduced functional capacity.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation, a cornerstone in COPD management helps to reduce dyspnea and improve functional capacity. Although long-term PR programs yield sustained benefits, shorter-duration PR (e.g., 3-week interventions) may offer greater feasibility and higher patient adherence.
Total 40 participants will be allocated into two groups. Group A will be provided with short term Pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management and group B will be given additional Box breathing along with short term pulmonary rehabilitation The objective of this study is to determine the additional effects of Box breathing technique with short term pulmonary rehabilitation versus short term pulmonary rehabilitation alone on Dyspnea, Functional capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Being tested
- Short term Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation
- Keywords
- COPD, Short term pulmonary rehabilitation, box breathing, dyspnea, functional capacity
- Medical subject headings
- Lung Diseases, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Dyspnea
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Short term Pulmonary RehabilitationOther
Patients in this group will receive short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management.
A total of 3 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 seesions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist.
Short term pulmonary rehabilitation includes:
Warm-up(5-7min): light walking Aerobic training: mild-moderate intensity (40-60% of MHR) cycling or walk on treadmill/over ground Strength training: Exercises for major muscle groups (upper limb, lower limb and trunk) using body weight based on 1RM.
Upper limb: upright row, shoulder press, bicep curls Lower limb: sit-to-stand, mini knee lifts, 3 steps calf raises Core: Seated abdominal contraction, back extension Perform 1-2 sets of 5-10 repetitions for each exercise, resting 1-2 mins between sets.
Breathing exercise: pursed-lip breathing (1-3 sets of 5-10 reps) Cool down: (5-10min) Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as per prescribed by pulmonologist
Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitationOther
Patients in this group will receive box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management. A total 3 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and box breathing will be performed daily.
Patient will receive short term pulmonary rehabilitation including:
Warm -up (5-7 min): light walking Aerobic training: mild-moderate intensity (40-60%of MHR) cycling or walk on treadmill/over ground.
Strength training: Exercises for major muscle groups (upper limb, lower limb and trunk) using body weight based on 1RM.
Upper limb: upright row, shoulder press, bicep curls Lower limb: sit-to-stand, mini knee lifts, 3 steps calf raises Core: seated abdominal contractions, back extensions Perform 1-2 sets of 5-10 repetitions for each exercise resting 1-2 min between sets.
Breathing exercise: pursed-lip breathing (1-3 sets of 5 -10 repetitions) Cool down: (5-10 min) Box breathing: The patient will be instructed
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Short term pulmonary rehabilitation | Experimental | Patients in this group will receive Short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management.
Two sessions per week, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 3 weeks. Receives: Other: Short term Pulmonary Rehabilitation |
| Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation | Experimental | Patients in this group will receive Box breathing as well as short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management.
Two sessions per weeek, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 3 weeks. In Group B, box breathing will be performed daily.
A home diary will be provided in order to ensure and follow-up that the participants are performing breathing exercise at home. Receives: Other: Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dyspnea
Evaluation will be performed using the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, a clinician-administered scale ranging from 0 to 4, where:
0 indicates breathlessness only with strenuous exercise 4 indicates severe breathlessness (too breathless to leave the house or breathless while dressing) Higher scores represent worse dyspnea severity and poorer functional status.
Measured: 03 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Functional Capacity
Evaluation will be done by using 6 minute walk test
Measured: 03 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Apr 2026
- Study start28 Feb 2026
- Primary completion15 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Foundation University IslamabadThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group (interventional group A) wil receive Short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management and the other group (interventional group B) will perform Box breathing combined with Short term pulmonary rehabilitation and pharmacological management.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University Islamabad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07518472
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FUCP/CTR/2026/01
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Additional Effects of Box Breathing Technique With Short Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Dyspnea and Functional Capacity in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07518472
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FUCP/CTR/2026/01
- Keywords
- COPD, Short term pulmonary rehabilitation, box breathing, dyspnea, functional capacity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Foundation University IslamabadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is progressive and irreversible respiratory condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation leading to dyspnea and reduced functional capacity.
Pulmonary rehabilitation along with different technqiues of breathing exercises reduces dyspnea and enhance functional capacity by improving ventilatory efficiency, respiratory muscle control and overall exercise tolerance in patients with COPD.
Detailed description
Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease is a progressive and irreversible respiratory condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation leading to dyspnea and reduced functional capacity.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation, a cornerstone in COPD management helps to reduce dyspnea and improve functional capacity. Although long-term PR programs yield sustained benefits, shorter-duration PR (e.g., 3-week interventions) may offer greater feasibility and higher patient adherence.
Total 40 participants will be allocated into two groups. Group A will be provided with short term Pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management and group B will be given additional Box breathing along with short term pulmonary rehabilitation The objective of this study is to determine the additional effects of Box breathing technique with short term pulmonary rehabilitation versus short term pulmonary rehabilitation alone on Dyspnea, Functional capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group (interventional group A) wil receive Short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management and the other group (interventional group B) will perform Box breathing combined with Short term pulmonary rehabilitation and pharmacological management.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Short term pulmonary rehabilitation | Experimental | Other: Short term Pulmonary RehabilitationPatients in this group will receive Short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management. Two sessions per week, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 3 weeks. |
| Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation | Experimental | Other: Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitationPatients in this group will receive Box breathing as well as short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management. Two sessions per weeek, supervised by physiotherapist will be conducted for a total of 3 weeks. In Group B, box breathing will be performed daily. A home diary will be provided in order to ensure and follow-up that the participants are performing breathing exercise at home. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age between 40-65 years
- Both genders (male and female)
- Grade 1-3 on mMRC scale of dyspnea
- COPD mild stage according to global initiative for chronic obstructive lung -disease (GOLD) classification; Mild = FEV1 greater than or equal to 80% predicted
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients having acute exerbation of COPD
- Patients diagnosed with acute infection (pmeumonia, T.B)
- Any orthopedic or neuromuscular condition that hinders participation in exercise training program
- Patients unable to follow command and instructions
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Short term Pulmonary RehabilitationPatients in this group will receive short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management. A total of 3 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 seesions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist. Short term pulmonary rehabilitation includes: Warm-up(5-7min): light walking Aerobic training: mild-moderate intensity (40-60% of MHR) cycling or walk on treadmill/over ground Strength training: Exercises for major muscle groups (upper limb, lower limb and trunk) using body weight based on 1RM. Upper limb: upright row, shoulder press, bicep curls Lower limb: sit-to-stand, mini knee lifts, 3 steps calf raises Core: Seated abdominal contraction, back extension Perform 1-2 sets of 5-10 repetitions for each exercise, resting 1-2 mins between sets. Breathing exercise: pursed-lip breathing (1-3 sets of 5-10 reps) Cool down: (5-10min) Pharmacological management: Patient will receive medications as per prescribed by pulmonologist | Other | Short term pulmonary rehabilitation |
| Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitationPatients in this group will receive box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation along with pharmacological management. A total 3 weeks protocol will be followed in which 2 sessions per week will be supervised by physiotherapist and box breathing will be performed daily. Patient will receive short term pulmonary rehabilitation including: Warm -up (5-7 min): light walking Aerobic training: mild-moderate intensity (40-60%of MHR) cycling or walk on treadmill/over ground. Strength training: Exercises for major muscle groups (upper limb, lower limb and trunk) using body weight based on 1RM. Upper limb: upright row, shoulder press, bicep curls Lower limb: sit-to-stand, mini knee lifts, 3 steps calf raises Core: seated abdominal contractions, back extensions Perform 1-2 sets of 5-10 repetitions for each exercise resting 1-2 min between sets. Breathing exercise: pursed-lip breathing (1-3 sets of 5 -10 repetitions) Cool down: (5-10 min) Box breathing: The patient will be instructed | Other | Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation |
Primary outcome
Dyspnea
Time frame: 03 weeks
Evaluation will be performed using the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, a clinician-administered scale ranging from 0 to 4, where: 0 indicates breathlessness only with strenuous exercise 4 indicates severe breathlessness (too breathless to leave the house or breathless while dressing) Higher scores represent worse dyspnea severity and poorer functional status.
1 secondary outcome
Functional Capacity
Time frame: 03 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Apr 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Short term Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Box breathing with short term pulmonary rehabilitation in people with Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (COPD), run by Foundation University Islamabad at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Fanila Tamdeen, MSPT-CPT (+923185085604, fanilatamdeen69@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dyspnea (time frame: 03 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Apr 2026.