The Effects of the Otago Exercise Program

Summary

The objective of this experimental study is to conduct a comparative evaluation of the effects of a supervised Otago Exercise Program (OEP) functional exercise capacity, blood lactate levels, dyspnea, fatigue, peripheral muscle strength, functional mobility, balance performance, quality of life, sleep status, and comorbidities in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), as compared to a control group.

The primary questions driving our study are:

* Does the Otago Exercise Program contribute to an increase in functional capacity?
* Does the Otago Exercise Program have positive effects on blood lactate levels, dyspnea, fatigue, peripheral muscle strength, functional mobility, balance performance, quality of life, sleep status, and comorbidities?

The study participants will be randomly allocated into two groups (n = 50) using a randomized controlled design. The training group (n = 25) will undergo the Otago exercise program, supervised by a physiotherapist, conducted three days a week within a hospital setting for an 8-week intervention period. Following the initial assessment, a patient education session will be administered for the control group (n = 25) and all participants, providing information on disease pathophysiology and the benefits of physical activity. Evaluations will be conducted at baseline and post the 8-week intervention period.

Our research project is designed to investigate the effectiveness of the supervised OEP in adults with CHD associated with PAH. Researchers will compare the training and control groups to determine the effects on functional capacity, blood lactate levels, dyspnea, fatigue, peripheral muscle strength, functional mobility, balance performance, quality of life, sleep status, and comorbidities.

Conditions

• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Heart Defects, Congenital

Interventions

OTHER

Training

A protocol has been established for the progression of the strengthening and balance training components of the Otago Exercise Program, increasing every two weeks in a four-stage manner. The exercise intensity will be gradually increased based on patient tolerance, ensuring that the perceived difficulty level remains in the range of 4-6 on the Borg dyspnea scale throughout the 8-week period. Supervised walking training is planned to be conducted on a treadmill to ensure standardization. The initial treadmill walking speed for patients will be determined based on the submaximal walking speed in the 6-minute walking test. The progression of the walking program will be carried out every two weeks, similar to the other exercise components of the program, with a 10% increase in walking speed each time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rengin Demir, Prof · Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC) Cardiology Institute

• Mehmet Serdar Kucukoglu, Prof · Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC) Cardiology Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-02-01

Primary Completion

2025-09-01

Completion

2026-02-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations