CompletedNot Applicable

Respiratory Muscle Training and Walking Exercise in Women Recovering From COVID-19 Pneumonia

Turkey (Türkiye)80 participantsStarted 2023-01-16

Plain-language summary

This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training and walking exercise on selected blood, respiratory, functional, dyspnea, sleep quality, and quality-of-life outcomes in women who had recovered from COVID-19-related lung inflammation/pneumonia. The study included women aged 20 to 45 years who had experienced COVID-19 with pneumonia, reported dyspnea, and had reduced quality of life. A total of 80 female participants were divided into four groups: respiratory muscle training plus walking exercise, respiratory muscle training alone, walking exercise alone, and a control group, with 20 participants in each group. Measurements were performed before and after the intervention period. The assessments included pulmonary function testing, maximal inspiratory pressure, the 6-minute walk test, the modified Borg scale for dyspnea, the Nottingham Health Profile, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and selected blood parameters. The study aimed to determine whether respiratory muscle training, walking exercise, or their combination could improve respiratory function, inspiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, dyspnea, sleep quality, quality of life, and blood-related parameters in this population.

Who can participate

Age range

20 Years – 45 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Female participants aged 20 to 45 years * History of COVID-19-related pneumonia * Presence of dyspnea after COVID-19 * Modified Borg dyspnea score between 1 and 7 after the 6-minute walk test * Resting oxygen saturation between 90% and 95% * Incomplete resolution of COVID-19-related lesions on chest radiography * Voluntary agreement to participate in the study * Signed written informed consent form Exclusion Criteria: * Modified Borg dyspnea score between 0 and 1 * Modified Borg dyspnea score greater than 7 * History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, or pulmonary fibrosis causing dyspnea before COVID-19 pneumonia * Upper abdominal or thoracic surgery within the previous 3 months * Cancer * Pregnancy * Presence of another disease contributing to dyspnea in addition to COVID-19-related dyspnea * Cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, or nervous system involvement related to COVID-19 * Mental disorder or mental instability * Language barrier preventing understanding of Turkish * Refusal to participate or withdrawal from the study at any stage * History of being a competitive athlete * Lack of voluntary participation or refusal to sign the written informed consent form

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial focused specifically on women recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia — would my own situation, including my gender, current stage of recovery, and any lingering respiratory symptoms, have been a good match for what this study was looking at?
2The trial measured 'maximal inspiratory pressure,' which is a way of testing how strong your breathing muscles are — can you explain what that measure means for my recovery, and whether my breathing muscle strength has been tested or should be?
3Since this trial combined respiratory muscle training with walking exercise, can you tell me whether that kind of program is something I should be doing now, and whether there are any risks given where I am in my recovery from COVID-19 pneumonia?
4The trial is already completed — does that mean there are results available that could inform my treatment plan, and is this type of combined breathing and walking rehabilitation considered a standard option for me at this point?
5Are there other ongoing or similar rehabilitation programs for post-COVID-19 respiratory recovery that you'd recommend I look into, or do you think a more conventional approach to rebuilding my lung function would be a better fit for my specific situation?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Maximal Inspiratory Pressure

Timeframe: Baseline and Week 8

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07656610

SponsorHitit University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-05-26

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More COVID-19 Pneumonia trials