Combined Effects of Rhythmic Breathing and Balance Training on Balance and Trunk Control in Stroke Patients

Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate the combined effects of rhythmic breathing and balance training on balance, trunk control and postural control in patients with sub-acute stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Will there be a difference in combined effects of rhythmic breathing exercises and balance training on balance and trunk control in patients with stroke?
* Will there be no difference in combined effects of rhythmic breathing exercises and balance training on balance and trunk control in patients with stroke? The participants will be evenly divided into two groups,
* the experimental group will receive rhythmic breathing exercises along with balance training and conventional physical therapy
* the control group will only receive balance training and physical therapy. Both the groups will perform their respective exercises for 60 minutes, 3 days a week for consecutive 8 weeks.

Conditions

• Sub-acute Stroke

Interventions

OTHER

rhythmic breathing exercise

The protocol for Rhythmic Breathing Exercises (22) is given as: Position: Supine with knees and hips slightly flexed, in a comfortable position Inhalation Phase: Deep inhalation with conscious outward movement of the abdomen; pause and hold for 10 seconds Exhalation Phase: Slow exhalation with conscious abdominal retraction, maintaining a slow and deep rhythm Hand Placement: One hand on the chest, one on the abdomen to monitor movement Breathing Cue: Only the hand on the abdomen should move during breathing; the chest should remain still Repetitions: 3 sets of 10 repetitions Rest Between Sets: 1 minute Total Duration: Limited to 10 minutes

OTHER

Balance training

Sitting-to-Standing: Performed using a stool with 3 sets of 5 repetitions Lateral Stepping: Walk 3 meters back and forth sideways with 3 sets of 5 repetitions Forward and Backward Stepping: 5 times with right leg stepping first, 5 times with left leg stepping first with 3 sets of 5 repetitions Forward Walking: Walk 3 meters back and forth, turn right at one end and left at the other wit 3 sets of 5 repetitions Stepping Up and Down: 5 times with right leg stepping first, 5 times with left leg stepping first with 3 sets of 5 repetitions Throwing and Catching Ball: Using a soft volleyball with 3 sets of 5 repetitions

OTHER

conventional physical therapy

Warm-Up: Active/passive ROM exercises for upper and lower limbs, 3 days/week for 10-15 minutes Trunk Control Exercises: Bridging, pelvic tilts, seated trunk rotations, reaching tasks with 3 sets of 5 repetitions for 3 days/week for 20 minutes Strengthening Exercises: Resistance band work for lower limb extensors, upper limb flexors with 3 sets of 5 repetitions for 3 days/week for 15-20 minutes Stretching: Hamstrings, calf, hip flexors, upper trapezius with 3 sets of 5 repetitions for 3 days/week for 10 minutes Postural Control Training: Use of Swiss ball, sitting on unstable surfaces, dual-task exercises with 3 sets of 5 repetitions for 3 days/week for 15-20 minutes Gait Training: Parallel bar walking, overground ambulation, obstacle walking 3 sets of repetitions for 3 days/week for 15-20 minutes Cool Down: Deep breathing, guided relaxation with 3 days/week for 5-10 minutes Education: Fall prevention, safe transfers, home exercise program with weekly session for 10-15 minutes

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hira Jabeen · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-05

Primary Completion

2026-07-05

Completion

2026-07-15

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations