Clinical trials

A sedentary behavior in the postoperative phase has a negative impact on recovery from various types of surgery (e.g. abdominal, pulmonary, cardiac or esophageal). In fact, sedentary behavior in the days following surgery is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications, longer hospital stays and, consequently, higher healthcare costs. Stimulating early mobilization and increasing the level of physical activity after surgery therefore remains a relevant current challenge. The Culture Care program will propose a new experience of the hospital towards an attractive and stimulating intrahospital environment, including art and culture. The hypothesis is that the innovative, positive hospital experience offered by the Culture Care program could contribute to increasing patients' mobility in the postoperative phase and thus reduce the sedentary behaviour compared with a control group included before the implementation of the program. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of the Culture Care program (Control group versus Culture Care group) on the mobility of patients hospitalized after thoracic or abdominal surgery, by determining the level of prediction in relation to the influencing covariates reported in the literature. The first quantitative part of this research project will compare the mobility of patients hospitalized after surgery, before (control group) and after the implementation of the Culture Care program (Culture Care group). Patients will be asked to wear an accelerometer for the first five post-operative days, and to complete three questionnaires (psychological well-being, physical recovery, perception of their mobility). Healthcare workers will be asked to complete a survey on their readiness to stimulate patients' mobility before and after the Culture Care program. The second part will be qualitative including individual semi-structured interviews with patients and healthcare workers during the Culture Care program, to gather their experiences.

Many patients experience quadriceps inhibition after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, delaying strength recovery, hindering return to sport, and potentially increasing the risk of re-injury. Two rehabilitation strategies-low-load blood flow restriction (BFR) training and surface electromyography (sEMG) biofeedback-aim to enhance neuromuscular activation and strength while limiting joint load. However, comparative and combined evidence in pragmatic, multicenter settings remains limited. AMIRACL is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial with four arms enrolling 200 adults (18-35 years) undergoing a first-time ACL reconstruction. Participants are randomized with center stratification; outcome assessors are blinded to allocation. The four groups are: (1) standard rehabilitation; (2) standard + early BFR; (3) standard + early sEMG biofeedback; and (4) standard + combined BFR and sEMG biofeedback. Interventions begin about 2 weeks postoperatively, are delivered over 6 weeks at three supervised sessions per week, and are integrated into contemporary ACL rehabilitation. BFR uses individualized, auto-regulated cuff pressure during low-load isometric and then dynamic exercises. sEMG biofeedback provides real-time visual and/or auditory feedback to optimize quadriceps recruitment during targeted tasks. The combined arm receives both modalities concurrently. The primary objective is to compare quadriceps activation (sEMG) and maximal isometric knee extensor strength between groups at 3 and 6 months. Secondary objectives include return-to-sport readiness and patient-reported function (e.g., ACL-RSI, IKDC), broader knee outcomes (e.g., KOOS, Lysholm), adherence and adverse events across arms, and ACL re-injury (ipsilateral graft rupture or contralateral ACL injury) within 2 years. Longer-term patient-reported quality of life is explored up to 5 years. Key eligibility criteria include age 18-35 years, first ACL reconstruction, and preinjury sport participation; major exclusions include revision ACL surgery, concomitant multi-ligament repair, neuromuscular disorders, and contraindications to BFR or sEMG. The planned sample size is 200 (50 per arm), powered to detect a clinically meaningful between-group difference in quadriceps activation. Analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle using mixed-effects models for repeated measures. The study is conducted under Good Clinical Practice and applicable Swiss regulations; all participants provide written informed consent. Overall, AMIRACL will determine whether early BFR, sEMG biofeedback, or their combination meaningfully improves quadriceps activation, strength, and clinical recovery after ACL reconstruction compared with standard rehabilitation alone.