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

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

38

Phase

  • 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 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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • 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)

April 13, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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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