NCT06741384

Breathing Exercises on Depression in Postmenopausal Women

Effect of Breathing Exercises on Depression and Sexual Function in Postmenopausal Women

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Middle East University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 45 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Evaluate the effect of breathing exercises on depression and sexual function in postmenopausal women

Detailed description

Sixty postmenopausal women will be sourced from the Obstetrics \& Gynecology outpatient clinic at El Mahalla El Kobra general hospital in Egypt, with referrals from gynecologists. Patients will be randomly assigned into two groups. Study group: It will include 30 women participating in diaphragmatic breathing plus aerobic training. Control group: It will include 30 women participating in aerobic training. At baseline and poststudy, the following outcomes will be assessed: 1. Depression (Beck Depression Inventory II scale). 2. Sexual function (female sexual function index questionnaire).

Conditions

• Postmenopausal
• Depressive Symptom
• Breathing Exercises

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Diaphragmatic breathing exercises	Participants will be directed to position their hands on the rectus abdominis muscle located under the anterior chest wall while resting in a hook position. They will be instructed to inhale slowly and deeply via the nostrils, expanding their abdomen without raising their upper chest, and resting their shoulders. Following the cessation of respiration, the woman will slowly exhale by pursing her lips. A respiratory cycle will consist of a three-second inhalation, a three-second pause, and a six-second exhalation. The diaphragmatic training regimen will consist of doing 3-5 sets of 5-10 deep breaths, with 2-minute intervals of rest in between sets.
OTHER	Aerobic training	The women will participate in aerobic training on cycle ergometer. Each session will consist of 30-45 minutes of cycling at a moderate intensity, accompanied by a workout heart rate ranging from 65% to 75% of the maximal heart rate and ranging between 12 and 14 on the Borg rating of perceived exertion 20-point scale. After ten minutes of warm-up, every session will end with a brief 3-minute period of cool-down.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-12-26
• Primary completion: 2025-03-20
• Completion: 2025-03-25
• First posted: 2024-12-19
• Last updated: 2024-12-20