Clinical trials

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.

The investigators are evaluating the effects of a mind-body mobile application, in combination with a guided movement program, on the experience of chronic pain. Participants meeting the criteria for chronic/persistent pain (confirmed via self-report) will complete an online baseline questionnaire. Eligible participants will take part in an intervention that involves use of a 6-week free trial of a mind-body focused mobile application in combination with virtual asynchronous audio-guided somatic education sessions (gentle movement). External data from a usual care control arm and a mobile-app-only arm from a previous study by the same research team, National Clinical Trials (NCT) registry number NCT05090683, will be used for comparison with the current combined intervention. All participants will complete online surveys at the start of the study and after 6 weeks to measure pain intensity and interference (primary outcomes), mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress), pain-related thoughts (pain catastrophizing), quality of life, and fear of movement (secondary outcomes). From weeks 2 to 6, participants will fill out weekly surveys to track how often they engage with each: the somatic education (gentle movement) program and the mobile app. Participants will also complete a follow-up survey at 12 weeks (6 weeks post-intervention conclusion).

In this study, the investigators want to find out if a 12-week exercise program improves balance in people with knee osteoarthritis. This study will involve two visits to the School of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley (Chilliwack campus). Each visit will last approximately one hour. Participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires and complete a balance test. In between visits, participants will complete 12 weeks of an exercise program specifically designed for adults with osteoarthritis. Participants will do the exercise classes twice per week. Classes can be done in person or at home Each exercise class is 45-minutes long and consists of flexibility, strength, and coordination exercises. In each class there are options to either increase or decrease the intensity of each exercise to cater to varying fitness levels and fluctuating symptoms. Each exercise has an assisted (using a chair for balance), body weight, and resisted (weight or exercise tubing) option. Participants will fill out an exercise diary each week to let the investigators know what days they did the exercise classes, and whether they experienced any changes in their knee osteoarthritis symptoms.