Slow Breathing and Resistance Exercise in Fibromyalgia

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Slow Breathing with Visual Pacer: Participants receive brief training using a visual pacer displayed on computer screen showing a line that rises during inhalation and falls during exhalation. The pacing is set to 6 respiratory cycles per minute (4 seconds inhalation, 6 seconds exhalation). Participants place one hand below chest and abdomen to monitor diaphragmatic movement. After training, participants continue slow breathing with the visual pacer continuously displayed, maintaining the prescribed respiratory rate.

Slow Breathing without Visual Pacer: Participants receive identical brief training using the visual pacer to learn the slow breathing pattern (6 cycles per minute: 4 seconds inhalation, 6 seconds exhalation). Hand placement below chest and abdomen to monitor diaphragmatic movement. After training, the visual pacer is removed and participants attempt to maintain the slow breathing pattern independently without external guidance.

Spontaneous Breathing (Active Control): Participants spend equivalent time breathing at their natural, spontaneous rate. They receive similar attention from evaluators but no specific breathing instructions. Participants are instructed to breathe normally at their usual pace and rhythm.

Study summary

This randomized controlled trial investigates whether slow breathing techniques influence heart rate variability, exercise self-efficacy, and resistance exercise performance in women with fibromyalgia. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three breathing conditions (slow breathing with visual pacer, slow breathing without pacer, or spontaneous breathing) before performing a biceps curl resistance exercise. The study will examine how breathing patterns interact with psychological variables (anxiety sensitivity, pain catastrophizing, pain hypervigilance, and kinesiophobia) to affect physiological and performance outcomes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - Change from Baseline — Measured: 5 min baseline, 8 min during breathing intervention, and 5 min post-exercise recovery.
  Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) in milliseconds
• Number of Biceps Curl Repetitions — Immediately during the resistance exercise test (single session).
  Number of properly executed biceps curl repetitions at 50% estimated 1-RM performed to voluntary exhaustion with proper form maintained.

Trial sites (2)

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