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The Application of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

NCT07713589 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 80

Last updated 2026-07-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

As individuals age, they experience a decline in muscle strength, particularly the respiratory muscles (such as the diaphragm), which not only affects respiratory efficiency but also may lead to postural instability and balance issues, limiting daily activity capacity. Inspiratory muscle training, by strengthening respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, improves breathing efficiency, reduces muscle fatigue and shortness of breath during exercise, and thus enhances physical performance and quality of life.

Moreover, inspiratory muscle training has a significant impact on balance. The diaphragm plays an essential role in maintaining postural stability, and training it can enhance the core muscles' contribution to postural balance, improve spinal support, and reduce the risk of falls. This makes it a promising non-pharmacological therapy for older adults. Therefore, inspiratory muscle training is considered a solution to improve the daily functional capacity, respiratory efficiency, and physical performance of elderly individuals.

Methods:

This study is a pilot study aimed at comparing muscle training (inspiratory muscle training, IMT) and incentive spirometer (Triflow) on respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, functional exercise capacity, quality of life, and physical activity in healthy older adults in the community. Due to limitations in manpower and resources, a convenience sampling method will be used, and participants will be recruited from 6-8 community centers, with cluster randomization at the community level. Each community center is expected to recruit 10-15 participants, with a total of 80 participants. The experimental group will use a handheld threshold trainer (n = 40, starting at 40% of Maximum Inspiratory Pressure, MIP), while the control group will use an inducible spirometer (n = 40, with the goal of raising one or more balls to the top). This study will explore the differences and potential of these two training methods in improving respiratory muscle strength, daily living abilities, exercise performance, and quality of life.

Conditions

  • Healthy Older Adults in the Community

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

IMT

Inspiratory muscle training was performed using the Dofin™ Breathing Trainer handheld threshold device (DT11). This two-in-one handheld threshold trainer enables training of both inspiratory and expiratory muscles and incorporates a spring and a colored ball to indicate breathing status and intensity. The DT11 provides a pressure range of 5-39 cmH₂O during inspiration and 4-33 cmH₂O during expiration.

BEHAVIORAL

Triflow

Triflow is a flow-oriented incentive spirometer driven by inspiratory flow rate. It contains a single colored ball that provides visual feedback of airflow, with the goal of raising the ball to the top chamber. Participants were instructed to inhale deeply at a sufficient flow rate-using abdominal or lower costal expansion-to lift the colored ball.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Hungkuang University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-09-23
Primary Completion
2026-04-30
Completion
2026-08-30

Countries

  • Taiwan

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 NCT07713589 on ClinicalTrials.gov