The Effects of Yoga Practice on Exercise Capacity, Arterial Stiffness, Respiratory Function, Peripheral Muscle Strength, Posture and Quality of Life in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exercise training applied through telerehabilitation on exercise capacity, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, arterial stiffness, posture and quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: aerobic exercises + yoga; Other: aerobic exercises; Other: Physical activity recommendations

Detailed Description

The most common problems in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are increased bronchial secretions, reduced exercise tolerance and shortness of breath.

Exercise capacity is limited due to muscle dysfunction, inflammation and progressive respiratory disease. Cardiovascular complications are one of the long-term complications of CF. Increased arterial stiffness is an indicator of elevated cardiovascular risk. It has been shown that patients with CF have increased arterial stiffness compared to their healthy peers.

Exercise training has a positive effect on exercise capacity, respiratory function and quality of life in patients with CF. Studies have shown that exercise training applied using the telerehabilitation method increases exercise capacity and improves peripheral muscle function in patients with CF. Peripheral muscle function, functional capacity, arterial stiffness and posture have been assessed in patients with CF. Furthermore, studies have been performed on patients with CF involving exercise training via telerehabilitation.In addition, various studies have shown that yoga and aerobic exercise training have positive effects on arterial stiffness. Although there are only a few studies involving patients with CF who practise yoga, no study has been found that assesses the effects of yoga practise via telerehabilitation on exercise capacity, peripheral and respiratory muscle function, and arterial stiffness.The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of exercise training using telerehabilitation on exercise capacity, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, arterial stiffness, posture and quality of life in children with CF.

Children were randomly assigned to three groups: The first group will receive online aerobic exercise training and yoga sessions. The second group will receive only aerobic exercise training.The third group will be informed about the importance of physical activity and will be given recommendations for physical activity. Participants' respiratory function, exercise capacity, arterial stiffness parameters, peripheral muscle function, posture and quality of life questionnaire will be evaluated initially and following an 8-week exercise programme.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Naciye Vardar-Yagli, PhD; Phone Number: +903123051576 ext 129; Email: naciyevardar@yahoo.com

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye), 06100
    • Recruiting
    • Hacettepe University
    • Contact: Naciye Vardar-Yagli, PhD; Phone Number: +903123051576; Email: naciyevardar@yahoo.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 8-18 years with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF)
• Access to online exercise training
• Percent predicted of forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) > 40% in pulmonary function test

Exclusion Criteria:

• Being diagnosed with acute pulmonary exacerbation at the time of study and /or within the last month.
• Being physically or perceptually competent to exercise
• Patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis who were treated with systemic steroid therapy

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: Combined Group; aerobic exercise training and yoga sessions in patients with cystic fibrosis	Other: aerobic exercises + yoga; Patients will be performed online in groups of 3-4 participants supervised aerobic exercises and yoga sessions. Aerobic exercises will be applied for 8 weeks, for 30-45 minutes, at 65-75% of the maximum heart rate, 3 days a week, on the days when yoga sessions are not performed. The yoga sessions will consist of 30-40-minute sessions, with three sessions per week for eight weeks. The yoga sessions will consist of three core components - asana (postures), pranayama (breathing) and meditation (focus).
Experimental: aerobic group; only aerobic exercises in patients with cystic fibrosis	Other: aerobic exercises; Patients will be performed online in groups of 3-4 participants supervised only aerobic exercises Aerobic exercises will be applied for 8 weeks, for 30-45 minutes, at 65-75% of the maximum heart rate, 3 days a week.
Experimental: control group; physical activity recommendations in patients with cystic fibrosis	Other: Physical activity recommendations; Patients will be informed of the benefits of physical activity and appropriate physical activity recommendations will be provided.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
six minute walk test	the distance reached in the six-minute walk test	before the exercise training
six minute walk test	the distance reached in the six-minute walk test	eigth week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Arterial stiffness	Arterial stiffness will be assessed non-invasively using the Mobil-O-GRAPH (I.E.M., Stolberg, Germany).	before the exercise training
Arterial stiffness	Arterial stiffness will be assessed non-invasively using the Mobil-O-GRAPH (I.E.M., Stolberg, Germany).	eight week
Respiratory muscle strength	Respiratory muscle strength will be evaluated using mouth pressure device	before the exercise training
Respiratory muscle strength	Respiratory muscle strength will be evaluated using mouth pressure device	eight week
respiratory muscle endurance	Respiratory muscle endurance will be assessed using constant load test	before the exercise training
respiratory muscle endurance	Respiratory muscle endurance will be assessed using constant load test	eight week
Pulmonary functions-FVC	Forced vital capacity (FVC)	before the exercise training
Pulmonary functions-FVC	Forced vital capacity (FVC)	eight week
Pulmonary functions-FEV1	Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)	before the exercise training
Pulmonary functions-FEV1	Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)	eigth week
Pulmonary functions-FEV1/FVC	FEV1/ FVC	before the exercise training
Pulmonary functions-FEV1/FVC	FEV1/ FVC	eight week
Pulmonary functions-FEF25-75	Forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75)	before the exercise training
Pulmonary functions-FEF25-75	Forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75)	eigth week
Peripheral muscle strength	Peripheral muscle strength will be assessed using dynamometer	before the exercise training
Peripheral muscle strength	Peripheral muscle strength will be assessed using dynamometer	eigth week
1 minute sit to stand test (STS) repetitions	number of sit to stand for one minute is recorded	before the exercise training
1 minute sit to stand test (STS) repetitions	number of sit to stand for one minute is recorded	eight week
posture	Posture will be assessed using Corbin Postural Assessment scale. Lateral and posterior views will be assessed (0 = absent,1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) and posture score will be determined as excellent(0-2), very good (3-4), good (5-7), fair (8-11)and poor (>12).	before the exercise training
posture	Posture will be assessed using Corbin Postural Assessment scale. Lateral and posterior views will be assessed (0 = absent,1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) and posture score will be determined as excellent(0-2), very good (3-4), good (5-7), fair (8-11)and poor (>12).	eigth week
Quality of life assessment	Quality of life will be assessed using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised .The Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised is a disease-specific health-related quality of life measure for children, adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). The questionnaire evaluate physical functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, body image, eating disorders, treatment,respiratory symptoms and digestive symptoms. Score range is 0-100. Higher scores indicating higher health-related qualityof life.	before the exercise training
Quality of life assessment	Quality of life will be assessed using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised .The Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised is a disease-specific health-related quality of life measure for children, adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). The questionnaire evaluate physical functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, body image, eating disorders, treatment,respiratory symptoms and digestive symptoms. Score range is 0-100. Higher scores indicating higher health-related quality of life.	eigth week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Naciye Vardar-Yagli, PhD, Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): November 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 12, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2026
• Last Verified: October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise; yoga
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Pancreatic Diseases; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Behavior; Cystic Fibrosis; Motor Activity; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Therapeutics; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Spiritual Therapies; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Yoga
• Other Study ID Numbers: FTREK25/92

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