Breathing exercises could supercharge heart failure recovery

NCT ID NCT04984473

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Mayo Clinic Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 17, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026

Summary

This study investigates whether adding inspiratory muscle training—breathing exercises that strengthen the diaphragm—to standard cardiac rehabilitation can improve blood flow and blood pressure responses during exercise in people with heart failure. The trial includes both heart failure patients and healthy volunteers matched for age and sex. Participants in the heart failure group will undergo 12 weeks of breathing training at 40% of their maximal inspiratory pressure alongside their regular rehab program.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: inspiratory muscle training device
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a simple, low-cost addition to cardiac rehab that improves exercise tolerance and blood pressure control in heart failure.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study with only 42 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The breathing training may not produce meaningful improvements over standard rehab alone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HEALTHY are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

heart failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEALTHY HEART FAILURE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
RECRUITING

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.