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Yoga Breath Training to Improve Cardiorespiratory Synchrony in Spinal Cord Injury

NCT06514950 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2026-03-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to understand how regular yogic breathing practice, particularly a slow resistive yogic breathing technique called Ujjayi, would benefit individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 with spinal cord injuries. Previously yogic breathing has shown to improve respiratory function and sleep- we'd like to explore this further.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* How does Ujjayi breathing affect breathing patterns in individuals with spinal cord injuries?
* How does Ujjayi breathing affect lung function in individuals with spinal cord injuries?
* How does Ujjayi breathing affect the part of the nervous system responsible for ventilatory control in individuals with spinal cord injuries?
* How does Ujjayi breathing affect ventilatory perfusion (how well air and blood flow match in the lungs for efficient gas exchange) in individuals with spinal cord injuries?
* How does Ujjayi breathing affect sleep quality in individuals with spinal cord injuries?

Participants will undergo six weeks of training in Ujjayi breathing. Before and after this period, they will visit the lab for measurements of blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen levels, and breathing. They will also perform several tests:

* Pulmonary function testing to assess lung capacity and respiratory muscle strength.
* Pace breathing frequency to four pre-recorded audio files at various breathing rates.
* Breathing exercises involving higher levels of carbon dioxide for a short time.
* Breathing exercises involving lower levels of oxygen for a short time.
* At-home sleep evaluation.

Between the two laboratory testing sessions, participants will practice yogic resistance breathing (Ujjayi breathing) for six weeks.

Conditions

  • Spinal Cord Injuries

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Ujjayi Yogic Breathing

Participants will undergo 6 weeks of resistive yogic breathing (Ujjayi) upon exhalation (first three weeks) and upon inhalation and exhalation (second three weeks).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • J. Andrew Taylor, MS, PhD · Harvard Medical School/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-08-01
Primary Completion
2027-01-01
Completion
2027-04-01

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06514950 on ClinicalTrials.gov