Conventional breathing exercises are recommended as a support to drug therapy, which is the primary treatment modality for symptom management in asthma patients. Video game-based applications are current approaches that enable exercises to be performed more fun, motivating, freely, and safely. The number of studies using video game-based approach as a respiratory exercise method is limited and no such study has been found in children with asthma. The aim of our study was to compare the effects of video game-based breathing exercises and conventional breathing exercises on pulmonary and extrapulmonary features in children with asthma. Thirty-four children with asthma aged 8-18 years will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly divided into 2 groups as control group and experimental group. Demographic and clinical features of the patients will be recorded. Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, fatigue, functional capacity, peripheral muscle strength, level of asthma control, and quality of life will be assessed by the spirometer, intraoral pressure measuring device, the Modified Borg Scale, the Fatigue Impact Scale, Spiropalm 6-min walk test, digital handheld manuel muscle tester, hydraulic hand dynamometer, asthma control test, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, respectively. Additionally, patient's adherence to the exercise program will be assessed by exercise diary. All assessments will be repeated before and after treatment. Exercise training will be given to the patients for 8 weeks, 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day. The control group will receive home-based conventional breathing exercises; the experimental group will receive video game-based exercises consisting of breathing games. The exercise program will consist of the breathing games in the BreathingLabs game kit. In addition, relaxation techniques will be taught and physical activity recommendations will be given to the both groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
34
The video game-based breathing exercises program will consist of 5 breathing games included in the BreathingLabs game kit and each game will be performed in 2 sets of 10 repetitions. The program will last for 8 weeks, 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day.
The conventional breathing exercises program will consist of routine breathing exercises. Breathing exercises will be given 2 times a day, 5 repetitions, 2 sets. The program will last for 8 weeks, 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day.
Istanbul Atlas University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Forced Vital Capacity will be measured before six-minute walk test according to the guideline of (European Respiratory Society) ERS.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)
Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second will be measured before six-minute walk test according to the guideline of ERS.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)
Peak Expiratory Flow will be measured before six-minute walk test according to the guideline of ERS.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Forced Expiratory Flow 25-75% (FEF25-75)
Forced Expiratory Flow 25-75% will be measured before six-minute walk test according to the guideline of ERS.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)
Maximal Inspiratory Pressure will be measured in accordance with American Thoracic Society (ATS)/ERS criteria using an electronic, mobile, (MicroRPM, Micro Medical; UK) intraoral pressure measuring device. Three measurements will be repeated for each maneuver and the highest value recorded as cmH2O.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP)
Maximal Expiratory Pressure will be measured in accordance with ATS/ERS criteria using an electronic, mobile, (MicroRPM, Micro Medical; UK) intraoral pressure measuring device. Three measurements will be repeated for each maneuver and the highest value recorded as cmH2O.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Level of Dyspnea
The dyspnea will be assessed by the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (MBS). The MBS is a 0 to 10 rated numerical score used to measure dyspnea as reported by the patient during submaximal exercise or any activity. A score of 0 is given for no difficulty in breathing and a score of 10 is given for maximum difficulty in breathing.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Level of Fatigue
The fatigue will be assessed by the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIM). The FIM is a 40-item self-report questionnaire developed to measure the impact of fatigue on quality of life. There are 40 items, each of which is scored 0 (no problem) to 4 (extreme problem), providing a continuous scale of 0-160. It is composed of three subscales that describe how fatigue impacts upon cognitive (10 items), physical (10 items) and psychosocial functioning (10 items).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Spiropalm 6-minute Walk Test
To assess the functional capacity the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) will be performed. The 6MWT with Spiropalm 6 DYT (Cosmed, Spiropalm 6MWT) according to ATS guidelines. Walking distance, minute ventilation, respiratory rate, inspiratory capacity and breathing reserve will be recorded.
Time frame: 8 weeks
M. Quadriceps Muscle Strength
The m. quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using the MicroFet 2 hand-held dynamometer (Hogan Health Industries, USA). The test will be repeated three times for the dominant side and the average value in kilograms (kg) will be recorded.
Time frame: 8 weeks
M. Biceps Muscle Strength
The m. biceps muscle strength will be measured using the MicroFet 2 hand-held dynamometer (Hogan Health Industries, USA). The test will be repeated three times for the dominant side and the average value in kilograms (kg) will be recorded.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Handgrip Strength
The handgrip strength assessment will be performed with the Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer (Performance Health; United States of America). The test will be repeated three times for both dominant and non-dominant hand and the average value in kilograms (kg) will be recorded.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Level of Asthma Control
The level of asthma control will be assessed by using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). The ACT is a patient self-administered tool for identifying those with poorly controlled asthma. The ACT assesses the frequency of shortness of breath and general asthma symptoms, use of rescue medications, the effect of asthma on daily functioning, and overall self-assessment of asthma control. The scores range from 5 (poor control of asthma) to 25 (complete control of asthma), with higher scores reflecting greater asthma control. An ACT score \>19 indicates well-controlled asthma.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Level of Quality of Life
The quality of life will be assessed by using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). The PedsQL is a brief measure of health-related quality of life in children and adolescents and those with acute and chronic health conditions. Items on the PedsQL Scales are reverse scored and transformed to a 0-100 scale. Higher scores indicate better health related quality of life.
Time frame: 8 weeks
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