scholarly journals Efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation with motion assistance from wearable cyborg hybrid assistive limb in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Watanabe ◽  
A Koike ◽  
H Kato ◽  
L Wu ◽  
K Hayashi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Recent Cochrane Systematic Review suggested that the participation in cardiac rehabilitation is associated with approximately 20% lower cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Exercise therapy is the key component of cardiac rehabilitation programs. In recent years, innovative technologies have been introduced into the field of rehabilitation, and a typical example is the wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL). The wearable cyborg HAL provides motion assistance based on detection of bioelectrical signals on the skin surface when muscle forces are generated. The lumbar-type HAL is expected to expand the therapeutic options for severe cardiac patients who have difficulty in performing usual cardiac rehabilitation programs, such as bicycle pedaling or walking. Purpose We aim to compare the efficacy of exercise therapy performed with motion assistance from a lumbar-type HAL versus conventional training (sit-to-stand exercise without HAL) in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods This clinical trial is a randomized, non-blinded, and controlled study. Twenty-eight heart failure patients (73.1±13.8 years) who have difficulty in walking at the usual walking speed of healthy subjects were randomly assigned to 2 groups (HAL group or control group) with a 1:1 allocation ratio and performed sit-to stand exercise either with HAL or without HAL for 5 to 30 minutes once a day, and 6 to 10 days during the study period. The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), isometric knee extensor strength, standing ability (30-seconds chair-stand test: CS-30), short physical performance battery (SPPB) and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were measured before and after the completion of cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac events such as death, re-hospitalization, myocardial infarction and worsening of angina pectoris and heart failure during 1 year after discharge were evaluated. Results There was no significant difference in the number of days of exercise therapy between the two groups. BNP, SPPB and 6MWD were improved in both groups. In the HAL group, the isometric knee extensor strength (0.29±0.11 vs 0.35±0.11 kgf/kg, p=0.003) significantly improved and CS-30 (5.5±5.1 vs 8.2±5.3, p=0.054) tended to improve. However, in the control group, either the isometric knee extensor strength (0.35±0.11 vs 0.36±0.14 kgf/kg, p=0.424) or CS-30 (6.0±4.3 vs 9.2±6.2, p=0.075) did not significantly change. HAL group showed significantly more improvement in the isometric knee extensor strength than control group (p=0.045). Cardiac events occurred in 20% in the HAL group and 43% in the control group. Conclusion The improvement in isometric knee extensor strength with the assistance from lumbar-type HAL suggests that exercise therapy using this device may be useful in chronic heart failure patients with flail or sarcopenia, a strong poor prognostic factor in these patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan (JSPS KAKENHI grant number JP17K09485) and funded by the ImPACT Program of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (Cabinet Office, Government of Japan) (grant number 2017-PM05-03-01).

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Rincón ◽  
Maria Ximena Rojas ◽  
Viviana Alejandra Rodriguez Romero ◽  
Diana Carolina Tamayo ◽  
Camilo Franco ◽  
...  

Cardiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-219
Author(s):  
Hiroki Watanabe ◽  
Akira Koike ◽  
Longmei Wu ◽  
Hidenori Kato ◽  
Hirotomo Konno ◽  
...  

The hybrid assistive limb (HAL) provides motion assistance based on bioelectrical signals detected on the skin surface when muscle forces are generated. The lumbar-type HAL is expected to expand the therapeutic options for severe cardiac patients who have difficulty in moving on their own legs. We aim to compare the efficacy of exercise therapy performed with assistance from a lumbar-type HAL versus conventional training (sit-to-stand exercise without HAL) in patients with chronic heart failure. This investigation will be a randomized, nonblinded, controlled study. Sixty patients who satisfy the criteria to receive cardiac rehabilitation therapy under the Japanese national insurance system will be enrolled at the University of Tsukuba Hospital. Participants randomly assigned to 2 groups (HAL group and conventional group) at a 1:1 allocation ratio will perform exercise therapy either with HAL or without HAL for 5–30 min once a day for 6–10 days. Outcome parameters will be measured just before and after the completion of the exercise therapy and at 1 year after hospital discharge. The primary outcomes will be the heart rate, blood pressure, subjective ratings of exercise intensity during exercise (Borg scale), number of days from the start of exercise therapy to independent walking and to discharge, and prognosis (mortality and cardiovascular events) over the 1-year period after discharge. The secondary outcomes will be the assessment of heart failure severity, brain natriuretic peptide, grip strength, thigh muscle thickness, isometric knee extensor strength, standing ability, 10-meter walking speed, 6-min walking distance, short physical performance battery, and adverse events. Unpaired t tests will be used for baseline assessments and outcome measures. This is the first randomized controlled study to examine the efficacy and feasibility of lumbar-type HAL in patients with chronic heart failure. If the results confirm beneficial effects in the outcomes of patients with heart failure, this study will add more evidence in support of the use of the lumbar-type HAL as an effective tool in new cardiac rehabilitation programs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiankun Chen ◽  
Wei Jiang ◽  
Thomas P. Olson ◽  
Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg ◽  
Zehuai Wen ◽  
...  

Aims: The Baduanjin Eight-Silken-Movements wIth Self-Efficacy building for Heart Failure (BESMILE-HF) program is a contextually adapted cardiac rehabilitation program. It uses a traditional Chinese exercise, Baduanjin, to solve the unmet demand of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programs due to their scarcity and unaffordability in China. This pilot study assesses BESMILE-HF's feasibility and preliminary effects.Methods: Eighteen patients with chronic heart failure were included: 8 in a BESMILE-HF group (age: 67 ± 5 years, EF: 40.4 ± 13.6%) and 10 in a control group (age: 70 ± 13 years, EF: 42.9 ± 12.5%). Both received the usual medications, with the intervention group receiving additionally the BESMILE-HF program for 6 weeks. Feasibility was explored by participants' involvement in the intended intervention. Clinical outcome assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention, while adverse events were captured throughout the study period.Results: The BESMILE-HF program was well-received by patients, and adherence to the intervention was good. The intervention group completed all required home exercises and total home-practice time was correlated with baseline self-efficacy (r = 0.831, p = 0.011). Moreover, after 6 weeks, self-efficacy increased in the BESMILE-HF group (p = 0.028) and the change was higher than in the control [mean difference (MD): 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6–5.9, p = 0.004]. For the exercise capacity, the control group demonstrated a significant decline in peak oxygen consumption (p =0.018) whereas, the BESMILE-HF group maintained their exercise capacity (p = 0.063). Although the between-group difference was not statistically significance, there was clear clinical improvement in the BESMILE-HF group (1.5 mL/kg/min, 95% CI, −0.3 to 3.2 vs. minimal clinically important difference of 1 mL/kg/min). Throughout the study period, no adverse events related to the intervention were captured.Conclusions: BESMILE-HF is feasible for patients with chronic heart failure in Chinese settings. A larger sample size and a longer follow-up period is needed to confirm its benefit on clinical outcomes.Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03180320.


Author(s):  
Giulia Foccardi ◽  
Marco Vecchiato ◽  
Daniel Neunhaeuserer ◽  
Michele Mezzaro ◽  
Giulia Quinto ◽  
...  

Although the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is proven, the need to improve patients’ adherence has emerged. There are only a few studies that have investigated the effect of sending text messages after a CR period to stimulate subjects’ ongoing engagement in regular physical activity (PA). A randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted after CR, sending a daily PA text message reminder to an intervention group (IG), which was compared with a usual care control group (CG) during three months of follow-up. Thirty-two subjects were assessed pre- and post-study intervention with GPAQ, submaximal iso-watt exercise testing, a 30 s sit-to-stand test, a bilateral arm curl test, and a final survey on a seven-point Likert scale. A statistically significant difference in the increase of moderate PA time (Δ 244.7 (95% CI 189.1, 300.4) minutes, p < 0.001) and in the reduction of sedentary behavior time (Δ −77.5 (95% CI 104.9, −50.1) minutes, p = 0.004) was shown when the IG was compared with the CG. This was associated with an improvement in heart rate, blood pressure, and patients’ Borg rating on the category ratio scale 10 (CR10) in iso-watt exercise testing (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, only the IG did not show a worsening of the strength parameters in the follow-up leading to a change of the 30 s sit-to-stand test with a difference of +2.2 (95% CI 1.23, 3.17) repetitions compared to CG (p = 0.03). The telemedical intervention has been appreciated by the IG, whose willingness to continue with regular PA emerged to be superior compared to the CG. Text messages are an effective and inexpensive adjuvant after phase 2 CR that improves adherence to regular PA. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in a larger patient population and in the long term.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Kourek ◽  
E Karatzanos ◽  
D Delis ◽  
M Alshamari ◽  
V Linardatou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chronic heart failure (CHF) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and it is characterized by vascular endothelial dysfunction. During the last decades, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are being used as an index of the endothelium restoration potential, therefore reflecting the vascular endothelial function. Exercise training has been shown to stimulate the mobilization of EPCs at rest in CHF patients. However, the effect of exercise training on the acute respond of EPCs after maximum exercise in CHF patients remains unknown. Purpose The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on the acute respond of EPCs after maximum exercise in patients with CHF. Methods Forty-four consecutive patients (35 males) with stable CHF [mean±SD, Age (years): 56±10, BMI (kg/m2): 28.7±5.2, EF (%): 33±8, Peak VO2 (ml/kg/min): 18.4±4.4, Peak work rate (watts): 101±39] enrolled a 36-session CR program based on high-intensity interval exercise training. All patients underwent an initial symptom limited maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on an ergometer before the CR program and a final maximal CPET after the CR program. Venous blood was drawn before and after each CPET. Five circulating endothelial populations were identified and quantified by flow cytometry; CD34+/CD45-/CD133+, CD34+/CD45-/CD133+/VEGFR2, CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR2, CD34+/CD45-/CD133- and CD34+/CD45-/CD133-/VEGFR2. EPCs values are expressed as cells/million enucleated cells in medians (25th-75th percentiles). Results The acute mobilization of EPCs after the final CPET was higher than after the initial CPET in 4 out of 5 circulating endothelial populations. Most specifically, difference of the acute mobilization of CD34+/CD45-/CD133+ cells [initial CPET: 25 (15–46) vs final CPET: 49 (26–71), p=0.002], CD34+/CD45-/CD133+/VEGFR2 cells [initial CPET: 3 (2–5) vs final CPET: 8 (5–12), p&lt;0.001], CD34+/CD45-/CD133- cells [initial CPET: 129 (52–338) vs final CPET: 250 (129–518), p=0.03] and CD34+/CD45-/CD133-/VEGFR2 cells [initial CPET: 2 (1–4) vs final CPET: 6 (3–9), p&lt;0.001] increased after the final CPET. The acute mobilization of CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR2 cells [initial CPET: 3 (−1–7) vs final CPET: 5 (0–15), p=0.441] did not differ between the 2 CPETS. Conclusion A 36-session cardiac rehabilitation program increases the acute respond of endothelial progenitor cells after maximum cardiopulmonary exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure, therefore indicating the beneficial effect of exercise training on the vascular endothelial function. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): Co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning” in the context of the project


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Sandri ◽  
Stephan Gielen ◽  
Norman Mangner ◽  
Volker Adams ◽  
Sandra Erbs ◽  
...  

Background: The concept of ventricular-arterial coupling implies that LV-function is determined by the three factors left ventricular diastolic, left ventricular systolic and arterial elastance. We have previously documented an improvement in endothelial function and systolic LV-function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) after 6 months of exercise training (ET). It remains, however, unclear, how shorter ET periods may affect endothelial, systolic and diastolic ventricular function as echocardiographic parameters related to ventricular arterial coupling in patients with CHF. METHODS: In this ongoing study we randomised 43 patients with stable CHF (age 60.3 ± 2.9 years, EF 27.4 ± 1.7%, VO 2 max 14.7 ± 4.3ml/kg*min) to a training or a control group (C). Patients in the training group exercised 4 times daily at 70% of the individual heart rate reserve for 4 weeks under supervision. At baseline and after 4 weeks the E/A ratio and septal/lateral E’/A’ velocities were determined by echocardiography with tissue Doppler. Exercise capacity was measured by ergospirometry and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was assessed by high-resolution radial ultrasound. RESULTS: After only 4 weeks of ET oxygen uptake at peak exercise increased from 14.9 ± 3.3 to 18.1 ± 4.7 ml/min/kg, (p<0.01 vs. C) in training subjects. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 26.8 ± 4.6 to 33.1 ± 5.5% (p<0.05 vs. C) in patients of the training group while it remained unchanged in the control group. E/A-ratio mended from 0.63 ± 0.12 to 0.81 ± 0.22 (p<0.01 vs. C) in training patients. Septal E’ velocities increased from 5.5 ± 0.5 to 7.8 ± 1.4 cm/s in training patients (p<0.05 vs. C). FMD of the radial artery improved from 8.2 ± 2.1 to 15.2 ± 3.8% (p<0.01 vs. C) as a result of ET. CONCLUSIONS: Only 4 weeks of endurance training are highly effective with significantly improved FMD accompanied by an emended systolic and diastolic LV-function. We hypothesise that the improvement in LV-EF in training patients may be caused by a corrected ventricular-arterial coupling: ventricular diastolic relaxation and effective endothelial function are ameliorated resulting in an augmentation of stroke volume.


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