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Efficacy of Stacked Breathing Technique on Respiratory Muscle Performance and Breath-Holding Capacity in Young Female Folk Vocalists


Authors : Ravneet Kaur; Kulwant Kaur; Sukhmandeep Singh Thind

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 9 - September


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3jje8y8m

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26sep830

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : Background: Breathing plays an essential role in singing by regulating airflow and subglottic pressure required for effective phonation. Female folk singers require adequate respiratory muscle strength, breath control, and lung expansion to sustain vocal performance. Breath Stacking (BS) may enhance lung volume and respiratory function by allowing successive inspiratory efforts without expiration.  Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of Breath Stacking and Pursed Lip Breathing on respiratory muscle strength and breath hold time in female folk vocalists.  Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.  Setting: Department of Music, Khalsa College, Amritsar.  Methods: An experimental randomized controlled trial was conducted among 48 female folk singers aged 18–25 years at the Department of Music, Khalsa College, Amritsar. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups, with 24 participants in each group. Intervention Group (Group A) received Breath Stacking, while control group(Group B) received Pursed Lip Breathing. Both interventions were administered four days per week for four weeks. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed using Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), while Breath Hold Time (BHT) was assessed using a static breath-holding test. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were compared using paired and unpaired t-tests.

Keywords : Breath Stacking, Pursed Lip Breathing, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Breath Hold Time.

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Background: Breathing plays an essential role in singing by regulating airflow and subglottic pressure required for effective phonation. Female folk singers require adequate respiratory muscle strength, breath control, and lung expansion to sustain vocal performance. Breath Stacking (BS) may enhance lung volume and respiratory function by allowing successive inspiratory efforts without expiration.  Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of Breath Stacking and Pursed Lip Breathing on respiratory muscle strength and breath hold time in female folk vocalists.  Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.  Setting: Department of Music, Khalsa College, Amritsar.  Methods: An experimental randomized controlled trial was conducted among 48 female folk singers aged 18–25 years at the Department of Music, Khalsa College, Amritsar. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups, with 24 participants in each group. Intervention Group (Group A) received Breath Stacking, while control group(Group B) received Pursed Lip Breathing. Both interventions were administered four days per week for four weeks. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed using Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), while Breath Hold Time (BHT) was assessed using a static breath-holding test. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were compared using paired and unpaired t-tests.

Keywords : Breath Stacking, Pursed Lip Breathing, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Breath Hold Time.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - October - 2026

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