Inspiratory Muscle Training for Breast Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Inspiratory muscle training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Early Stage Breast Carcinoma, Dyspnea. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training Among Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Treatment (IMACT)
Overview
This clinical trial studies whether breathing exercises for the muscles that help with breathing air in, inspiratory muscle training (IMT), works to improve breathing muscle strength, shortness of breath, and physical activity levels in women who are receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer (BC). Cancer and/or treatments for BC can directly result in muscle wasting that involves breathing muscles, skeletal muscles or heart muscles. Pain, weakness, shortness of breath, and side effects of cancer treatment may lead to lower physical activity levels. IMT involves breathing exercises using a small hand-held device. The device makes it a little harder to breathe in, which may help strengthen breathing muscles. IMT may be an effective way to improve breathing muscle strength, shortness of breath, and physical activity levels in women who are receiving chemotherapy for early-stage BC.
Detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 8 weeks of IMT on inspiratory muscle strength, exertional dyspnea, and physical activity levels among women undergoing chemotherapy for BC.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM 1: Patients complete three sets of fifteen repetitions per session of low-intensity IMT over 15-20 minutes four days a week for 8 weeks.
ARM 2: Patients complete three sets of fifteen repetitions per session of high-intensity IMT over 15-20 minutes four days a week for 8 weeks.
Interventions
- Behavioral Inspiratory muscle training
Training of respiratory muscles
Primary outcome measures
- Maximum inspiratory pressure [Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Physical activity levels [Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks]
- Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea scale rating [Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks]
- Dyspnea 12 score [Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks]
- RAND-36 Quality of life [Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks]
- FACIT-F [Time frame: Baseline to 8 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Within 3 weeks of starting chemotherapy for an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis
- Able to exercise independently without needing support
- Ability to read, speak, understand English
Exclusion criteria
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
- Any significant health condition which in the investigator's opinion increases the risks of participation or makes the participant unsuitable for the study
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center — Columbus
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07386444 · OSU-25238 · NCI-2026-00179