Clinical trials

Menopause and ageing bring several changes to women's health, partly due to a decline in the hormone estrogen. This reduction affects multiple systems in the body, including muscles and bones, and also influences the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a key role in regulating blood flow and blood pressure. An reduced ability to produce nitric oxide is associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Many women also experience lower levels of physical activity and changes in body composition during midlife, such as increased body fat and reduced muscle mass and strength, which may further decrease exercise capacity. This PhD project investigates whether a simple, natural strategy, combining exercise with beetroot juice, can help postmenopausal women achieve greater benefits from exercise. Beetroot juice is naturally rich in nitrates, which the body can convert into nitric oxide, thereby enhancing blood flow. Exercise itself also stimulates nitric oxide production, and together these approaches may have additive or even synergistic effects. The study examines whether consuming beetroot juice before exercise can enhance training adaptations and health outcomes in postmenopausal women. Key outcomes include cardiovascular function, body composition, musculoskeletal function, and aerobic capacity. Some evidence suggests that beetroot juice may amplify the body's response to exercise, which could be particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women, who often face greater barriers to physical activity. By exploring this combined approach, the project aims to evaluate a safe, non-pharmacological strategy to improve physical function and overall health in women after menopause.

Introduction: The Background * Prevalence: Low back pain (LBP) is very common in young athletes, and lumbar spondylolysis (an overuse injury of bones in the low back) is the leading cause. In adolescent male soccer players with LBP, almost half (up to 48%) have this specific injury. * The Current Standard: Existing Norwegian guidelines mandate a break from all sports for a minimum of 3 months when rehabilitating spondylolysis * The Challenge: These strict guidelines lack strong evidence from clinical trials and can lead to negative social and physical consequences for the athlete, including exclusion from team activities and reduced general physical activity. AIM: The Goal of the Study To determine the safety and effectiveness of a newly developed, 4-phased, pain-controlled rehabilitation protocol that uses early, criteria-based activity progression (based on functional capacity and pain levels) for youth football players diagnosed with spondylolysis. Method: Study Design and Measurements * Design: This is a pilot study (prospective cohort study) involving 30-40 youth football players with a first-time diagnosis of low grade (1-2) spondylolysis. * Diagnosis: The injury is confirmed using an MRI scan (specifically the VIBE sequence). * Data Collection: We will gather data through: * MRIs: Comparing images at baseline (start) and after 3 months. * Standardized Clinical Examinations. * PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures - standardized questionnaires about function and pain). * Weekly reporting on pain intensity and training volume. * Outcome: We will compare the changes in the bone healing seen on the MRI findings between the start and end of the 3-month period, and at six months if applicable.

Dyspnea, cough, and chronic mucus hypersecretion are common symptoms in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which increases risk of infections followed by exacerbations, often leading to hospitalization, disease progression and mortality. This patient group requires lifelong treatment in healthcare. A mobile application was developed to facilitate adherence to evidence-based guidelines for tailored breathing and airway clearance techniques to enhance self-management. The app is only in Norwegian and has a Norwegian name which is "Pust Deg Bedre" (PDB). The PDB app is fully developed and tested and can be downloaded for free. The app seems promising as a treatment tool, but has not yet been clinical evaluated. This project aims to 1) explore the feasibility of providing the app for patients with COPD, 2) explore the patients' with COPD experiences with the use of the PDB-app in treating dyspnea and mucus secretion, 3) explore the physiotherapists' experiences with the use of the PDB-app in treating dyspnea and mucus secretion, 4) explore the physiotherapists' experiences with implementing the PDB-app in treatment of patients with COPD, 5) explore the patients' experiences with the education in use of the PDB-app, and 6) At a 6-month follow up: explore the physiotherapists experiences with the usefulness and applicability of PBD-app, and to generally explore their experiences with participating in the project.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), characterized by non-reversible airflow obstruction, contributes to high mortality and morbidity rates worldwide, including Norway. Individuals with COPD experience symptoms and complications that impede daily activities and diminish their quality of life. COPD places a growing burden on healthcare systems presently and in the future. Interventions to empower individuals to self-manage their health effectively are needed to help the challenges of living with COPD, and work towards a sustainable healthcare system. As part of the broader healthcare policy agenda, this project aligns with the increasing emphasis on digital homebased primary healthcare. The intervention in this study will combine digital homebased care and guided self-determination follow-ups (GSD) within a general practice setting. This project consists of 1) explore the feasibility of a COPD specific GSD counselling program delivered within a digital platform in primary care, 2) explore patients' and nurses' experiences applying the program, 3) examine the treatment fidelity of the intervention amongst healthcare professionals. This project is a pilot cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT), including individuals diagnosed with COPD, conducted in primary healthcare settings, and assessment of feasibility and uncertainties before conducting a later full-scale cluster-RCT. The intervention draws upon the Medical Research Council's revised guidelines for developing complex intervention studies, focusing on the initial phases of intervention development and pilot testing. Primary care clinics are randomly assigned into either an intervention- or a control group. The intervention consists of the GSD counselling program with follow-up within a digital platform. The control group provide regular care. The project will include both qualitative (individual semi-structured interviews), and quantitative data (questionnaires and clinical data). In conclusion, this project explores an innovative intervention offering personalized strategies for COPD management in primary care clinic, by containing a digitalized homebased care program and follow-ups. The study aims to improve the daily living for people with COPD, while contributing to the future sustainability of healthcare systems.