Diaphragmatic and Box Breathing on Heart Rate Variability and Perceived Stress (NCT07698652) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Diaphragmatic and Box Breathing on Heart Rate Variability and Perceived Stress
Egypt60 participantsStarted 2026-09-20
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if diaphragmatic breathing and box breathing work to enhance resilience and manage stress in physical therapy students. It will also learn about their effects on overall physiological and psychological parameters. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Do these breathing techniques improve heart rate variability (HRV)?
How do these interventions affect participants' perceived stress levels, cognitive performance, and academic achievement?
Researchers will compare diaphragmatic breathing and box breathing to a control group to see if these non-invasive methods work to improve physiological adaptation and manage stress.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to practice diaphragmatic breathing, practice box breathing, or join a control group Have their heart rate variability (HRV) measured as a primary sign of physiological adaptation Complete assessments to evaluate their perceived stress, cognitive performance, and academic achievement
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 25 Years
Sex
ALL
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:
* Academic Status: Currently enrolled, full-time undergraduate Physical Therapy students
* Age Range: 18-25 years
* Health Status: Generally healthy individuals with no known chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
* Informed Consent: Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent and commit to the 4-week protocol (6 sessions/week).
* Stress Level: A baseline score on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) indicating at least moderate stress.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pre-existing Breathing Expertise: Individuals with professional training in yoga (Pranayama), formal meditation, or advanced breath work that might bias the baseline results.
* Medical Conditions: Diagnosed respiratory conditions (e.g., Asthma, COPD).
* Cardiovascular issues (e.g., Arrhythmias, Hypertension).
* Clinical psychological disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder) that may require medication.
* Pharmacological Factors: Use of medications that influence the Autonomic Nervous System (e.g., Beta-blockers, antidepressants, or heavy use of stimulants/sedatives).
* Substance Use: Smokers/Vapers
* Excessive Caffeine "Participants consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine per day (equivalent to approximately 4 standard cups of brewed coffee) will be excluded.
* Recent Acute Illness: Any respiratory tract infection or fever within two weeks prior to the start of the study
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.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
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
1
Heart Rate Variability
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the 4-week training period (post-intervention).
2
Perceived Stress
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the 4-week training period (post-intervention).
3
Resilience
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the 4-week training period (post-intervention).