Effect of Pilates Training Versus High Intensity Interval Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Asthmatic Patients

To compare the effect of Pilates Training Versus High Intensity Interval Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Asthmatic Patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Asthma
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pilates exercises; Other: diaphragmatic breathing exercise.; Other: low-volume high-intensity interval training

Detailed Description

Asthma is a widespread chronic inflammatory disease affecting over 300 million people globally, leading to approximately 461,000 deaths annually. Exercise, particularly Pilates and high-intensity interval training, is critical for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and can enhance the quality of life for asthma patients, who often face reduced physical fitness and comorbidities like depression. Pilates improves respiratory control and strengthens respiratory muscles, while high-intensity interval training enhances aerobic and anaerobic capacities, reduces inflammation, and improves maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max). This study aims to establish guidelines comparing the effects of Pilates and high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness in asthmatic patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ghidaa Elmahdi Eldomiaty, Assistant lecturer; Phone Number: +20 10 22143737; Email: gelmahdi@horus.edu.eg

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Damietta, Egypt
    • out-patient clinic, faculty of physical therapy, Horus university
    • Contact: Ghidaa Elmahdi Eldomiaty, Assistant lecturer; Phone Number: +20 10 22143737; Email: gelmahdi@horus.edu.eg

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 51 patients diagnosed with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and a history of respiratory illness, aged between 30 and 40 years.
2. Medically stable and capable of performing physical exercise.
3. All participants provided written informed consent before enrollment.
4. body mass index 25.0 - 29.9 (overweight)
5. Patients with partially controlled asthma according to the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) from 0 to 1.5.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants with musculoskeletal limitations, cardiovascular instability, or any contraindications to exercise were excluded.
2. Uncontrolled hypertension.
3. Cognitive impaired patients.
4. Severe Anemic patients.
5. Pregnancy.
6. Recent cardiothoracic surgery.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pilates exercises; Patients will receive Pilates exercises administered to Group A include five movements: The Hundred, Single Leg Stretch, Side Kick, Toe Taps, and Leg Pull Front all performed with structured breathing patterns to emphasize respiratory control and core stabilization.	Other: Pilates exercises; 17 Patients will perform Pilates exercises 40-60 mins, three times per week, over 8weeks. Pilates exercises include five movements: The Hundred, Single Leg Stretch, Side Kick, Toe Taps, and Leg Pull Front, all performed with structured breathing Patterns To Emphasize Respiratory Control And Core Stabilization; Other: diaphragmatic breathing exercise.; Breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose using the diaphragm with a minimum movement of the chest in a supine position with one hand placed on the chest and the other on the belly. During breathing, practitioners should be careful that chest remains as still as possible and stomach moves against the hand focusing on contracting the diaphragm. Generally, diaphragmatic breathing practitioners inhale and exhale for approximately six seconds, respectively
Experimental: low-volume high-intensity interval training; Patients will receive low-volume high-intensity interval training. Participants will perform 3-minute High Intensity Interval Training intervals on a treadmill at 85- 90% of heart rate reserve, each followed by 2 minutes of moderate-intensity active recovery at 60% -70% of eart rate reserve. The total time spent in the exercise session is 25-30 minutes.	Other: diaphragmatic breathing exercise.; Breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose using the diaphragm with a minimum movement of the chest in a supine position with one hand placed on the chest and the other on the belly. During breathing, practitioners should be careful that chest remains as still as possible and stomach moves against the hand focusing on contracting the diaphragm. Generally, diaphragmatic breathing practitioners inhale and exhale for approximately six seconds, respectively; Other: low-volume high-intensity interval training; 17 patients will engage in low-volume high-intensity interval training complemented by diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Each session begins with a 5-10 minute warm-up on a treadmill at 40% of heart rate reserve. The targeted heart rate during high-intensity interval training is set at 85-90% of heart rate reserve plus resting heart rate. Participants will complete 3-minute high-intensity interval training intervals at the specified intensity, alternating with 2 minutes of moderate-intensity recovery at 60-70% heart rate reserve. Total exercise duration is 25-30 minutes, concluding with a 5-minute cool-down at 30% heart rate reserve.
Active Comparator: Diaphragmatic breathing exercises; Diaphragmatic breathing exercises involve inhaling slowly through the nose while keeping the chest still and allowing the diaphragm to move the stomach. This is performed in a supine position, with one hand on the chest and the other on the belly, ensuring minimal chest movement. Practitioners typically inhale and exhale over six seconds each.	Other: diaphragmatic breathing exercise.; Breathing in slowly and deeply through the nose using the diaphragm with a minimum movement of the chest in a supine position with one hand placed on the chest and the other on the belly. During breathing, practitioners should be careful that chest remains as still as possible and stomach moves against the hand focusing on contracting the diaphragm. Generally, diaphragmatic breathing practitioners inhale and exhale for approximately six seconds, respectively

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
assessment of maximum oxygen consumption	Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is essential for evaluating patient symptoms, disease severity, prognosis, and therapy responses. It assesses the interaction of cardiovascular and pulmonary systems with other bodily systems. maximum oxygen consumption is calculated using the Bruce protocol via the Ergo Spiro Device. This protocol involves a multi-stage treadmill test, starting at a 10% grade and increasing speed and grade every three minutes until exhaustion. Subjects must refrain from eating, smoking, and consuming caffeine before testing, and avoid intense exercise leading up to the test.	At baseline and after 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
assessment of Quality of Life	The Mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire is a shortened, 15-item version of the original questionnaire, designed to accurately assess the quality of life in asthmatic patients without consuming much time. It evaluates four domains: symptoms, activity limitation, emotional function, and environmental stimuli, based on the respondents' experiences over the past two weeks. it employs a 7-point Likert scale, where 7 indicates no impairment and 1 signifies significant impairment	At baseline and after 8 weeks
assessment of dyspnea	The Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale is a validated, numerical rating scale used to quantify the subjective perception of breathlessness during physical activity or exercise. The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no breathlessness and 10 represents maximal or extremely severe breathlessness. Participants are instructed to rate their perceived level of dyspnea immediately after or during exercise, providing a simple, reliable, and clinically applicable measure of symptom intensity for monitoring exercise tolerance and evaluating treatment outcomes.	At baseline and after 8 weeks
assessment of asthma symptoms	Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6) is a six-item questionnaire designed to measure asthma symptoms. The questionnaire is scored by the mean of all items (0-6), with higher scores indicating poorer control.	At baseline and after 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Horus University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Asthma; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise Movement Techniques
• Other Study ID Numbers: Ghidaa-PHD

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No