Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
200 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-05-14
2025-05-31
Brief Summary
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1. Does breathing rate influence the spatial extent of thermally induced secondary hyperalgesia, a proxy of central sensitization?
2. Does resonance frequency breathing influence the autonomic nervous system, compared to baseline and compared to paced breathing at a natural frequency?
3. Is spinal excitability, measured using the magnitude of the nociception withdrawal reflex (NWR), affected by resonance frequency breathing, compared to paced breathing at a natural frequency?
Participants:
* will receive heat stimuli
* 's skin's sensitivity will be tested using quantitative sensory testing tools.
* will receive various instructions on the speed of their breathing
* 's heart rate, respiratory rate and sweat response will be measured
* will fill in questionnaires
Researchers will compare the spatial extent of sensitivity resulting from application of heat stimuli during paced resonance frequency breathing compared to paced breathing at a natural frequency to see if the breathing rhythm influences central sensitization processes.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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NA
SINGLE_GROUP
BASIC_SCIENCE
NONE
Study Groups
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Healthy participants
Participants should be aged 18-40, in good health, capable of informed consent, without major medical/psychiatric conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, major depressive disorder), chronic pain, respiratory issues, or ongoing acute pain, qualify. Exclusions: inability to follow instructions (e.g., language issues), recent alcohol/drug/analgesic use (\<24h), caffeine intake (\>100mg \<8h), or scar tissue/general reduced sensitivity in test areas.
Participants undergo three interventions. The heat stimulation intervention is performed twice. During one heat stimulation intervention, participants receive the 'resonance frequency breathing' intervention. During the other heat stimulation intervention, participants receive the 'natural frequency breathing' intervention. The order of the breathing interventions is counterbalanced across participants.
Paced Resonance Frequency Breathing
Participants are required to pace their breathing to their pre-determined individual resonance frequency.
Paced Breathing at Natural Frequency
Participants are required to pace their breathing to their pre-determined individual breathing frequency at rest.
Heat Stimulations
Participants will undergo a heat stimulation procedure on their left and right foot (the order of which is counterbalanced across participants). During this procedure, there are 10 blocks, with an inter-stimulus interval of 30 seconds between two blocks. During a block, six 6-second heat stimulations (48 degrees) are given. Between the stimulations, the temperature quickly returns to baseline (32 degrees).
Interventions
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Paced Resonance Frequency Breathing
Participants are required to pace their breathing to their pre-determined individual resonance frequency.
Paced Breathing at Natural Frequency
Participants are required to pace their breathing to their pre-determined individual breathing frequency at rest.
Heat Stimulations
Participants will undergo a heat stimulation procedure on their left and right foot (the order of which is counterbalanced across participants). During this procedure, there are 10 blocks, with an inter-stimulus interval of 30 seconds between two blocks. During a block, six 6-second heat stimulations (48 degrees) are given. Between the stimulations, the temperature quickly returns to baseline (32 degrees).
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
2. good general health
3. able to give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
2. inability to follow study instructions, e.g. due to language problems
3. Consumption of alcohol, drugs, analgesics within the last 24 h
4. Consumption of no more than 100 mg of caffeine within the last 8 h
5. Scar tissue or generally reduced sensitivity in the designated testing site areas
1. Shoe size \< 38
2. Restless-Legs-Syndrome
18 Years
40 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Balgrist University Hospital
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Schweinhardt Petra
Prof. Dr. med
Locations
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University Hospital Balgrist, University Zürich
Zurich, , Switzerland
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Petra Schweinhardt, Prof. Dr. med
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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2023-00518
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id