Effect of Liuzijue and Box Breathing on Inspiratory Capacity and Blood Pressure After Femoral Neck Fracture Immobilization

Summary

The purpose of this study is to understand how two simple breathing exercise techniques (Liuzijue and box breathing) affect inspiratory capacity and blood pressure in people who were immobilized after a femoral neck fracture.

Older adults who sustain a femoral neck fracture are often required to remain immobile for several weeks. Prolonged immobilization can reduce lung capacity and may negatively affect blood pressure control, increasing the risk of breathing difficulties and other health problems. Breathing-based exercise techniques may help improve respiratory function and cardiovascular stability during recovery.

This study retrospectively analyzed data from patients who had previously received either Liuzijue exercises or box breathing techniques as part of their rehabilitation program. The main questions this study aimed to answer were:

Do Liuzijue and box breathing techniques improve inspiratory capacity after a period of immobilization? Do these techniques help in controlling systolic and diastolic blood pressure? Is one technique more effective than the other over a 4-week intervention period?

Data were collected at three time points: before the intervention (baseline), at the second week, and at the end of the fourth week. The findings of this study may help healthcare professionals choose simple, safe, and cost-effective breathing interventions for patients recovering from femoral neck fractures.

Conditions

• Femoral Neck Fractures
• Breathing Exercises
• Inspiratory Capacity
• Blood Pressure

Interventions

OTHER

Liuzijue Qi Gong Exercise

Liuzijue Qi Gong is a gentle breathing exercise from traditional Chinese medicine. It involves six specific vocal sounds ("Xu", "He", "Hu", "Si", "Chui", and "Xi"). The practice promotes deep, diaphragmatic breathing, improves lung function and supports relaxation. Participants performed Liuzijue Qi Gong exercises for 20 minutes, twice daily, 6 days per week, for 4 weeks following femoral neck fracture.

OTHER

Box Breathing Technique

Box Breathing is a controlled breathing exercise that involves four equal phases: inhale, hold, exhale, hold, typically performed for 4-6 seconds each. It helps regulate breathing, reduce stress, improve oxygenation, and enhance autonomic balance. Safely practiced by older adults or individuals with limited physical activity. Participants performed the Box Breathing technique for 20 minutes, twice daily, 6 days per week, for 4 weeks following femoral neck fracture.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saveetha University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Shenbaga Sundaram Subramanian · Saveetha college of physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences [SIMATS].

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-01

Primary Completion

2025-09-27

Completion

2025-10-20

Countries

• India

Study Locations