Effects of Blowing Balloon Therapy FUNCTION, DYSPNEA AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OBESE CHILDREN

May 4, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Blowing Balloon Therapy on Pulmonary Function, Dyspnea and Quality of Life in Obese Children

The respiratory system is divided into upper and lower tracts and functions through gaseous exchange, ventilation, and perfusion, with normal breathing depending on lung compliance, airway resistance, and muscular strength. Pulmonary function is assessed using spirometry, particularly Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), which are often reduced in obese children due to excess adipose tissue restricting chest wall expansion and diaphragmatic movement, contributing to dyspnea. This randomized controlled trial will be conducted over 10 months in Lahore at selected hospitals and schools, involving 38 obese children (BMI ≥30), aged 6-12 years with mild to moderate dyspnea (RPE 8-14), who will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving blowing balloon therapy or a control group performing splint running (n=19 each). Participants will be screened using the Borg RPE Scale, and data will be analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The respiratory system is anatomically divided into the upper and lower respiratory tracts and performs essential functions including gaseous exchange, ventilation, and perfusion. Effective breathing depends on optimal lung compliance, minimal airway resistance, and adequate respiratory muscle strength. Pulmonary function is commonly evaluated using spirometry, which measures key parameters such as Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁). In obese children, these values are often reduced due to the accumulation of excessive adipose tissue around the thoracic cage and abdomen, leading to impaired respiratory mechanics, restricted chest wall expansion, limited diaphragmatic movement, and increased work of breathing, which contributes to dyspnea. This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial over a period of 10 months following approval of the research synopsis. Data will be collected from multiple healthcare and educational institutions in Lahore, including Fatima Memorial Hospital, Gulab Devi Hospital, Evercare Hospital, Lahore Grammar School (LGS), The Trust School, and Beaconhouse School System. A total of 38 obese children with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater, aged between 6 and 12 years, and experiencing mild to moderate dyspnea (Rated 8-14 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale) will be recruited. BMI will be calculated using the standard formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). Eligible participants will be screened using the Borg RPE Scale questionnaire and then randomly allocated into two groups: an experimental group (n=19) and a control group (n=19). The experimental group will receive blowing balloon therapy as an intervention aimed at improving respiratory function, while the control group will perform splint running as a comparative physical activity. Pre- and post-intervention spirometry measurements will be taken to assess changes in FVC and FEV₁. The collected data will be statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20 to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
38

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
      • Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 25000
        • Recruiting
        • Paraplegic Center
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • muhammad mannan, phd
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • abdul wasay, msnmpt

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Obese children having 30 or greater than 30 BMI

    • Age: 6 to 12 years .
    • Children with atleast light to moderate intensity dyspnea (RPE 8-14)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent asthma exacerbation or respiratory infection in the past 4 weeks.

    • Other chronic respiratory (e.g. cystic fibrosis) or cardiac diseases.
    • Musculoskeletal, neurological, or other conditions that contraindicate exercise.
    • Non-ambulatory status or inability to perform the exercise protocol

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Blowing Balloon Therapy Group
This arm will include 19 obese children (BMI ≥30), aged 6-12 years, experiencing mild to moderate dyspnea (RPE 8-14). Participants in this group will receive blowing balloon therapy, a structured respiratory intervention aimed at improving lung function by strengthening respiratory muscles,
Other: Blowing Balloon Therapy Group
Blowing balloon therapy involves the child inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling slowly into a balloon, repeated for several sets under supervision. This technique strengthens respiratory muscles, improves lung expansion, and enhances breathing control. Sessions are performed regularly with rest intervals to avoid fatigue and ensure safety.
Active Comparator: Running Group
This arm will also consist of 19 obese children with similar inclusion criteria. Participants will perform splint running, which serves as the control activity involving general physical exercise without specific respiratory training.
Other: Blowing Balloon Therapy Group
Blowing balloon therapy involves the child inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling slowly into a balloon, repeated for several sets under supervision. This technique strengthens respiratory muscles, improves lung expansion, and enhances breathing control. Sessions are performed regularly with rest intervals to avoid fatigue and ensure safety.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pulmonary Function
Time Frame: 4th day
The primary outcome of this study is pulmonary function, specifically measured by Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁) using spirometry. These measurements will be taken at baseline (pre-intervention) and after completion of the intervention (post-intervention) to assess changes in lung function. Any improvement in FVC and FEV₁ values will reflect enhanced respiratory capacity and indicate the effectiveness of the intervention in obese children with dyspnea.
4th day

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Aruba Saeed, PhD, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 13, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REC/RCR&AHS/25/EMAN AZAM

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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