Does Breathing Resistance Training Relax the Body and Calm the Mind?

INSTITUTION: The Regents of the University of California, UCLA

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Paul Macey

CO-INVESTIGATOR: Prabha Siddarth (UCLA)

REGION: USA

Overview:

This project aims to investigate the effects of five minutes of daily Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on mental and physical states and determine if these changes are sustained over time.

Abstract: 

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT), originally developed to improve breathing capacity, has been found to lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being. The practice does not require extended periods of focus (unlike meditation) and takes only 5 minutes a day. This project will investigate the effects of IMT on mental and physical states, and determine if these changes are sustained over time. The study will have 150 participants randomly assigned to three groups: IMT, sham IMT, and engagement only (same weekly measures, with the same contact with the research team, but without the sham or active IMT training). Mental state will be measured using psychological well-being and body awareness assessments, while physical relaxation will be assessed through heart rate variability. Participants will engage in daily tracking and weekly surveys throughout the study. Secondary objectives include comparing IMT to sham IMT and evaluating within-group changes over time. The findings will contribute to understanding the effectiveness of IMT in expanding psychological well-being compared to sham IMT or engagement alone.