Randomized and comparative study between two intra-hospital exercise programs for heart transplant patients.
Kawauchi TS, Almeida PO, et al.Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular. 2013; 28, 338-46.
Aims
To evaluate two physical therapy exercise programs on pulmonary function and functional capacity in patients following a heart transplant.
Interventions
Patients were randomised to the controlled exercise group or training group. The controlled exercise group consisted of a routine programme of 10 repetitions of diaphragmatic breathing exercises, general exercises, orientation for ambulation without pre-established target distance and was conducted once a day, five times per week. The training group consisted of 10 phases of increasing complexity, including breathing exercises, active resistance and aerobic exercises and stretching. The training group promoted incremental effort and progression into a new phase which was dependent on the patie
Participants
26 heart transplant recipients >13 years.
Outcomes
The outcomes included pulmonary function and functional capacity. Pulmonary function was evaluated by respiratory muscle strength and forced vital capacity. Functional capacity was evaluated by the six minute walk test at the end of the first week after extubation and again on the day before discharge. The dynamics of peripheral muscle strength was also recorded using the one repetition maximum test.
Follow-up
Up to the day of patient discharge.
CET Conclusions
The study did not demonstrate better lung function and exercise tolerance of patients following the more intensive exercise programme compared to the standard programme. The study is adequately described and randomised, although of course it could not be blinded, which may have affected the outcomes. It was also rather small (n=22) to achieve a statistical significance for small improvements, and there is no description of a power calculation.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Trial registration
Not reported.