The Effects of a Mindfulness Program on Running Performance, Respiratory Function, and Heart Rate Variability
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: Mindful meditation, Breathwork.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Respiratory Function, Runners. Basic parameters: from 19 years · All.
- 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
- Canada
- 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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Overview
Broadly, the objective of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific breathwork program (Les Mills Breath) on various physiological variables related to running performance, compared to a mindfulness control (20 minutes of guided meditation). There are three specific research questions: 1) Does daily participation in a 20-minute breathwork program improve respiratory function more than a mindfulness control intervention? 2) Does daily participation in a 20-minute breathwork program improve heart rate variability (an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system activity which is associated with enhanced exercise recovery) more than a mindfulness control intervention? 3) Does daily participation in a 20-minute breathwork program increase self-selected running speeds at relative moderate and vigorous intensities more than a mindfulness control intervention? The intended outcomes of the current research are to contribute to the field of research which has examined various forms of "respiratory training" and their effects on athletic performance, specifically running. While certain training protocols have been shown to be effective, there are issues of accessibility which persist. Methods of respiratory training/breathwork which are more easily available to recreational athletes are understudied with regards to running performance, hence the current research.
Interventions
- Behavioral Mindful meditation
20-minute, video-based mindful meditation focusing on relaxation - Behavioral Breathwork
20-minute, video-based meditation focusing on breathwork: physiological sigh, cyclic breathing with breath holds, resonant frequency breathing
Primary outcome measures
- Preferred running speed at moderate intensity [Time frame: From baseline to followup (4 weeks later)]
- Preferred running speed at vigorous intensity [Time frame: From baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
Secondary outcome measures (6)
- Waking heart rate variability [Time frame: Baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
- Forced Vital Capacity [Time frame: Baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
- Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) [Time frame: Baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
- Peak Expiratory Flow rate (PEFR) [Time frame: Baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
- Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) [Time frame: Baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
- Recovery heart rate variability [Time frame: Baseline to follow-up (4 weeks after baseline)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Must pass the Get Active Questionnaire to assess physical activity risk
- Must regularly engage in recreational running for between 30 and 520 minutes per week
Exclusion criteria
- Running more than 520 minutes per week
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- University of the Fraser Valley — Chilliwack
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07521956 · 101891