Low-load Blood Flow Restriction Training in COPD (LL-BFRT COPD)

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Muscle Weakness; COPD

Treatments: Other: Low-load blood flow restriction training; Other: Usual outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04151771

SNCTP000003509 (Other Identifier)

2019-01641 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Peripheral muscle weakness is a predominant problem in patients with COPD and treated using exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation. Despite pulmonary rehabilitation being an effective intervention, muscle strength impairment is a persisting problem in COPD patients. Patients have problems to tolerate the high training loads, which are necessary to develop strength. Low-load blood flow restriction training (LL-BFRT) might therefore be an option to enhance muscular response of patients with COPD to strength training. Up to now, no studies investigating LL-BFRT in respiratory diseases are available.

The primary outcome of this randomized pilot study is knee extensor muscle strength. Secondary, the study will evaluate if LL-BFRT is well tolerated and feasible in COPD patients attending outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed COPD according to GOLD-guidelines
• Assigned to outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation by the treating physician

Exclusion criteria

• Physical or intellectual impairment precluding informed consent or protocol adherence
• Non-German speaking (precluding informed consent)
• Acute or recent (within the last 6 weeks) exacerbation of COPD
• Attending a pulmonary rehabilitation program within the last 3 months
• Pregnant patients
• History of thromboembolic event in the lower extremity
• Diagnosis of polyneuropathy
• Resting systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

LL-BFRT group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomised into intervention group are attending pulmonary rehabilitation in which strengthening exercises of the lower limb are performed using LL-BFRT.

Treatment:

Other: Low-load blood flow restriction training

Usual pulmonary rehabilitation group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants randomised into control group are attending usual pulmonary rehabilitation as established.

Treatment:

Other: Usual outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation