Combat sport athletes often need to maintain a guarded posture, stabilize the trunk, react quickly, and control balance during contact or unexpected movement. These demands may be related not only to strength and conditioning, but also to the coordination between breathing and postural control. The diaphragm is the main muscle for breathing and also contributes to trunk stability through its role in pressure regulation and deep core control. However, dysfunctional breathing patterns, such as upper-chest dominant breathing, reduced lower rib expansion, or poor coordination between the chest and abdomen, may interfere with this function. The purpose of this study is to examine dysfunctional breathing patterns in combat sport athletes and to investigate whether diaphragmatic breathing retraining can improve breathing patterns, diaphragm function, core stability, postural control, and sport-related performance. This study will first screen athletes from combat and non-combat sports to determine the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing. Combat sport athletes will then complete laboratory tests to examine the relationship between breathing pattern, posture, diaphragm function, core stability, and postural control. In the intervention part of the study, combat sport athletes with dysfunctional breathing will be randomly assigned to diaphragmatic breathing retraining plus usual training or usual training only. The study will compare the two groups to determine whether adding diaphragmatic breathing retraining provides additional benefits. The study will also examine whether the changes are maintained after training and whether baseline measures can help identify athletes who respond better to the program.
Age range
18 Years – 50 Years
Sex
ALL
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
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.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
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.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Breathing Pattern_ Total Faulty Breathing Scale (TFBS) Score
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Day 1 (immediately after first session), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Trunk Flexor Endurance _ McGill Curl-Up Hold Test
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Back Extensor Endurance _Biering-Sørensen Test
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Movement Speed_10-Meter Sprint Time
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Agility _ T-Test Time
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Visual Motor Reaction Time _ BlazePod System
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Dynamic Balance _ Y Balance Test Composite Score
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - Time to Stabilization
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - Trunk/Pelvis Angular Displacement
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - Trunk/Pelvis Angular Velocity
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - Peak Ground Reaction Force
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - COP Path Length
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - Trunk Muscle Onset Latency
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Reactive Postural Control - Trunk Muscle EMG Amplitude
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion) Secondary
Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP)
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Diaphragmatic Excursion
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Day 1 (immediately after first session), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Diaphragmatic Thickening Fraction
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Day 1 (immediately after first session), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Proactive Core Stability - Time to Stabilization
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Proactive Core Stability - Trunk/Pelvis Angular Displacement
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Proactive Core Stability - Trunk/Pelvis Angular Velocity
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Proactive Core Stability - Peak Ground Reaction Force
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Proactive Core Stability - COP Path Length
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)
Proactive Core Stability - Trunk Muscle EMG Amplitude
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1), Week 8 (post-intervention), Week 16 (8 weeks after intervention completion)