Slow Breathing and Resistance Exercise in Fibromyalgia

Sponsor
University of Malaga
Study ID
NCT07404384
Status
Enrolling By Invitation

Conditions

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Slow Breathing with Visual Pacer — BEHAVIORAL
    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 — BEHAVIORAL
    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) — BEHAVIORAL
    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 Details

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.

Key Dates

First listed
Feb 11, 2026
Start date
Feb 28, 2026
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Apr 30, 2026
Completion
May 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
159 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Slow Breathing with Visual Pacer
    Participants perform 8 minutes of paced slow breathing (6 breaths/min) with continuous visual guidance before resistance exercise test.
  • Experimental: Slow Breathing without Visual Pacer
    Participants perform 8 minutes of self-paced slow breathing (6 breaths/min target) after brief training, without continuous visual guidance, before resistance exercise test.
  • Experimental: Spontaneous Breathing
    Participants breathe naturally at their spontaneous rate for equivalent duration before resistance exercise test.

Primary Outcome Measure

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - Change from Baseline [ Time Frame: Measured: 5 min baseline, 8 min during breathing intervention, and 5 min post-exercise recovery. ]

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