Elastic-Band Resistance and Breathing Training for Older Adults With Pulmonary Function Impairment

Effects of Elastic-Band Resistance Training With or Without Breathing Exercise on Pulmonary Function and Functional Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Pulmonary Function Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether elastic-band resistance training, with or without breathing training, can improve lung function and physical function in older adults with pulmonary function impairment living in the community. It will also learn about the safety and feasibility of these exercise programs.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does elastic-band resistance training improve lung function, lower-limb muscle strength, walking ability, and exercise tolerance?

Does adding structured breathing training to elastic-band resistance training provide additional benefits for lung function and respiratory-related health status?

Are these exercise programs safe and acceptable for older adults in a community setting?

Researchers will compare three groups: elastic-band resistance training plus breathing training, elastic-band resistance training alone, and usual health education. This will help determine whether elastic-band resistance training is helpful and whether breathing training adds extra benefit.

Participants will:

Take part in a 12-week study

Be assigned by chance to one of three groups

Attend supervised exercise sessions 3 times per week if assigned to an exercise group

Receive usual health education and daily activity guidance

Complete lung function tests, muscle strength tests, physical function tests, and questionnaires at the start of the study, at 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks

Detailed Description

Pulmonary function impairment is common in older adults and may be associated with reduced physical activity, lower exercise tolerance, poorer functional performance, and impaired respiratory-related health status. Community-dwelling older adults with early or mild pulmonary function decline may not receive formal pulmonary rehabilitation, but they may still benefit from simple, low-cost, and feasible exercise-based interventions.

This study was designed to evaluate whether a community-based elastic-band resistance training program, with or without structured breathing training, could improve pulmonary function and functional performance in older adults with pulmonary function impairment. Eligible participants were community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older who were identified through pulmonary function screening. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: elastic-band resistance training plus breathing training, elastic-band resistance training alone, or usual health education.

The elastic-band resistance training program used progressive resistance exercises targeting upper-limb, lower-limb, and trunk-related functional movement patterns. Training intensity was monitored using a perceived exertion scale and adjusted according to each participant's tolerance and movement quality. The structured breathing training program included breathing control exercises and breathing trainer-based practice, with progression based on training level, breath-holding or maintenance time, repetitions, and perceived breathing effort.

The intervention lasted 12 weeks. Participants in the exercise groups attended supervised sessions three times per week in a community health service setting, while the control group received usual health education and daily activity guidance. Study assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks to examine changes in pulmonary function, muscle strength, functional performance, respiratory-related health status, sleep quality, adherence, and safety.

This study may provide evidence for a practical community-based exercise approach for older adults with pulmonary function impairment and may help clarify whether adding structured breathing training to elastic-band resistance training provides additional benefits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 60 to 85 years
• Pulmonary function impairment identified by community-based spirometry screening
• Community-dwelling older adults
• Able to communicate and walk independently
• Willing to participate in the 12-week intervention and all study assessments
• Provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute or unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, or severe musculoskeletal disease that made exercise training unsafe
• Recent acute exacerbation, surgery, severe infection, or other health event that could affect safe participation
• Significant cognitive impairment, communication disorder, or inability to cooperate with training or assessments
• Currently receiving systematic pulmonary rehabilitation or regular structured exercise training that could affect the intervention effect
• Unable to meet spirometry quality-control requirements
• Unable to complete key baseline outcome assessments