Breathing easy in late pregnancy: study tests two simple techniques
NCT ID NCT07365163
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compared deep breathing exercises and a device called an incentive spirometer to see which better relieves shortness of breath and improves walking ability in women during the last three months of pregnancy. Thirty-six pregnant women participated, each doing one of the two breathing techniques under supervision. The goal was to find a safe, non-drug way to help pregnant women breathe more comfortably and stay active.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- deep breathing exercises and volume-oriented incentive spirometry
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that simple breathing exercises or a spirometry device can help pregnant women breathe easier and feel less tired in late pregnancy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 36 participants, so results may not apply to all pregnant women. The interventions are low-risk, but the benefits may be modest.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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36 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Finished
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Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 40 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * \- Participants aged between 18 and 40 years * Blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg * Not pregnant * Primigravida women * Participants in the third trimester of pregnancy * Able to understand and follow instructions * Willing to participate and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * \- History of cardiovascular disorders * History of respiratory disorders * History of psychological disorders * History of medical or surgical conditions involving the nose, throat, diaphragm, or lungs * Any condition that could interfere with participation in breathing exercises or spirometry
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan