Slow Breathing and Resistance Exercise in Fibromyalgia

Summary

This randomized controlled trial investigates whether slow breathing techniques influence heart rate variability, exercise self-efficacy, and resistance exercise performance in women with fibromyalgia. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three breathing conditions (slow breathing with visual pacer, slow breathing without pacer, or spontaneous breathing) before performing a biceps curl resistance exercise. The study will examine how breathing patterns interact with psychological variables (anxiety sensitivity, pain catastrophizing, pain hypervigilance, and kinesiophobia) to affect physiological and performance outcomes.

Conditions

• Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Slow Breathing with Visual Pacer

Participants receive brief training using a visual pacer displayed on computer screen showing a line that rises during inhalation and falls during exhalation. The pacing is set to 6 respiratory cycles per minute (4 seconds inhalation, 6 seconds exhalation). Participants place one hand below chest and abdomen to monitor diaphragmatic movement. After training, participants continue slow breathing with the visual pacer continuously displayed, maintaining the prescribed respiratory rate.

BEHAVIORAL

Slow Breathing without Visual Pacer

Participants receive identical brief training using the visual pacer to learn the slow breathing pattern (6 cycles per minute: 4 seconds inhalation, 6 seconds exhalation). Hand placement below chest and abdomen to monitor diaphragmatic movement. After training, the visual pacer is removed and participants attempt to maintain the slow breathing pattern independently without external guidance.

BEHAVIORAL

Spontaneous Breathing (Active Control)

Participants spend equivalent time breathing at their natural, spontaneous rate. They receive similar attention from evaluators but no specific breathing instructions. Participants are instructed to breathe normally at their usual pace and rhythm.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Asociación de Pacientes de Fibromialgia y Síndrome de Fatiga Crónica de Málaga (APAFIMA)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Asociación de Fibromialgia y Síndrome de Fatiga Crónica de Málaga (AFIBROMA)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Malaga

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marcin Czub, PhD · University of Wrocław

• Rosa Esteve, PhD · University of Malaga

• Elena R. Serrano-Ibáñez, PhD · University of Malaga

• Joanna Piskorz, PhD · University of Wrocław

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-28

Primary Completion

2026-04-30

Completion

2027-05-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations