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Examining the Effectiveness of Single-Limb Exercise Training for COPD Patients During Exacerbation Periods

ConditionChronic Obstructive Airways Disease Exacerbated
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
AgeNot listed
SponsorAlper Kemal Gürbüz

About this trial

Resistance exercise applications during acute exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are employed to enhance functional capacity and prevent muscle atrophy by increasing muscle strength.

Owing to the limited cardiorespiratory reserve of COPD patients, single-limb exercises are better tolerated compared to traditional bilateral exercises. A study conducted by Vogiatzis et al. (2009) indicated that single-leg exercises require lower ventilation and result in more efficient oxygen consumption than bilateral exercises. This physiological advantage may be effective in reducing muscle weakness by increasing exercise endurance in COPD patients with restricted respiratory capacity.

The present study aims to demonstrate that single-limb resistance exercise is an effective rehabilitation method for increasing functional exercise capacity in patients during COPD exacerbations compared to a control group. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of single-limb resistance exercises on dyspnea perception, fatigue, anxiety, and depression will be established. The study will also show that these exercises are both feasible and safe within rehabilitation protocols during the exacerbation period.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

None

Disqualifiers

None

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Single Limb Exercise Training

    Other intervention

    Participants will perform unilateral resistance exercises for six major muscle groups (shoulder flex/abd, elbow flex, hip flex, knee flex/ext) using free weights in a seated position. The intensity is set at 50-70% of 1RM, consisting of 2 sets of 8 repetitions per limb. This 8-week program will be conducted twice weekly as an adjunct to routine hospital physiotherapy and standard inpatient physiotherapy, including breathing retraining (diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing) and thoracic expansion exercises.

  • Routine Exercise

    Other intervention

    Physiotherapy Intervention: Just standard inpatient physiotherapy, including breathing retraining (diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing) and thoracic expansion exercises.

Treatment groups

30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Exercise groupActive comparator 2 interventions
Group B: Control GroupOther 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

1. Functional Exercise Capacity

30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test (30-sec STS): Functional capacity will be assessed using a chair with a height of 43.2 cm and back support. Patients, with arms crossed over their chests, will be instructed to complete as many full stands as possible within 30 seconds. Two practice trials will be performed before recording the final count.

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks
2

Dyspnea

Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Scale: Dyspnea perception during daily activities will be recorded. The five levels of the scale will be explained in detail to the participants to determine their perceived respiratory distress

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks
3

Muscle Strength Assessment

Muscle strength will be measured using a digital dynamometer (Commander Echo Manual Muscle Tester, Lafayette Instrument Co., USA). The best of three consecutive measurements will be recorded

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

Respiratory Muscle Strength

Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) will be assessed using a portable manometer (Pony FX, Cosmed, Italy). For MIP, patients will perform a maximal inspiration from residual volume; for MEP, a maximal expiration from total lung capacity. The best of three measurements with less than 10% variability will be recorded

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks
2

Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

Pulmonary functions will be measured in a seated position using a spirometer. Parameters including FVC (Liter (L)), FEV₁ (Liter (L)), TLC (Liter (L)), PEF (L/s) will be recorded as absolute values and percentages of predicted values based on age, height, weight, and gender

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks
3

Anxiety and Depression

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS): This 14-item scale consists of two subscales (7 items each for anxiety and depression). The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale have been established, and permission for use has been secured

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks
4

Functional Exercise Capacity

6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT): Prior to the test, resting heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation ($SpO\_2$), and respiratory rate will be measured. Patients will walk the maximum possible distance on a 30-meter flat indoor course for 6 minutes. Dyspnea and fatigue during the test will be evaluated using the Borg Scale

Time frame
Up to 8 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Alper Kemal Gürbüz

Lead sponsor

Kırıkkale University

Sponsor institution

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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