Recruiting

VIH

Sponsor:

University of British Columbia

Code:

NCT07103291

Conditions

Healthy Adults

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 55

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Respiratory muscle endurance training

Sham respiratory muscle endurance training

Study Details

Brief summary:

Respiratory muscle training (RMT) strengthens breathing muscles and may improve exercise performance and reduce breathlessness. However, different training methods and devices create controversy in the field. Two main types of RMT exist: inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and respiratory endurance training, like voluntary isocapnic hyperpnea (VIH). While IMT is well-studied, the impact of VIH on breathlessness remains unclear. This study will use the Canadian-developed BreathWayBetter device to examine how 5 weeks of VIH affects breathing discomfort and muscle function. Findings may help personalize RMT for athletes and clinical patients, improving respiratory care and exercise tolerance.

Conditions

Healthy Adults

Study ID

NCT07103291

Start date

Aug 4, 2025

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Aug 1, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 1, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 55

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18-55 years of age (inclusive)
  • Male or Female (biological sex)
  • Body mass index greater than 18 or less than 30 kg/m2
  • Normal pulmonary function: FEV1/FVC > 0.70 and FEV1 ≥ 80%
  • Able to read and understand English
  • Regularly trains and/or competes at a regional, national, or international level as a road cyclist or triathlete
  • Access to a device with the capability to download the Isocapnic app (Apple IOS or Google Play/Android) or the ability to use the Web Based application.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently smoke, vape, or use cannabis, or have a history of frequent smoking, vaping or cannabis use
  • History of, or current symptoms of cardiopulmonary (i.e., lung and/or heart) disease (excluding controlled asthma)
  • Heart problem; a serious infection within the body; a neuromuscular (nerve to muscle) or musculoskeletal (muscle, ligament and/or bone) disorder; or other health problem that will be made worse with exercise testing
  • Contraindications to exercise testing defined as anything that would prevent exercise under proper and safe conditions (e.g. a problem with the heart or lungs, muscle or bone injury, a serious infection)
  • Currently pregnant
  • Required to read and understand English due to the nature of the consent form and study materials, including questionnaires and training instructions, which are only available in English.

Study Design

Enrollment

32 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

sham comparator: Low frequency and intensity training

Participant will perform a respiratory training following a low intensity and frequency protocol

active comparator: Progressive high frequency and intensity training

Participant will perform a respiratory training following a progressive intensity and frequency protocol

Interventions

Respiratory muscle endurance training

Respiratory muscle endurance training program over 5 weeks.

Sham respiratory muscle endurance training

Respiratory muscle endurance training program over 5 weeks following a sham training procedure that is meant to elicit no physiologic changes.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change from baseline in dyspnoea ratings on the 0-10 Borg scale after respiratory endurance training [ Time Frame: Up to 7 weeks ]
  • Difference in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak) following high intensity training program compared to sham comparator program. [ Time Frame: Up to 7 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Olivia Ferguson, MSc

604-806-8835Olivia.Ferguson@hli.ubc.ca

Satvir Dhillon, MSc

604-806-8835satvir.dhillon@hli.ubc.ca

Locations

St. Paul's Hospital

Recruiting

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z 1Y6

Contacts

Olivia Ferguson, MSc

604-806-8835olivia.ferguson@hli.ubc.ca

Principal Investigator:

Jordan Guenette, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Last update posted

May 15, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Exercise physiology
  • Respiratory muscle training
  • Cycling
  • Competitive cyclists

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of British Columbia on 2026-05-15.