Clinical Research Directory

Acute Muscular and Vascular Responses to a Single Session of Exercise With BFR in COPD

Exercise training is a cornerstone of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, some patients derive limited benefits from conventional exercise programs. Previous studies suggest that the magnitude of exercise-induced muscle fatigue is associated with training effectiveness, with patients unable to develop significant muscle fatigue ("non-fatiguers") showing smaller improvements in functional capacity and quality of life. Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise consists in performing physical exercise while applying external pressure to the proximal part of the exercising limb, thereby reducing oxygen delivery to the muscles and limiting metabolite clearance. This approach has been shown to induce significant muscular adaptations despite the use of low exercise intensities. Because exercise intensity in COPD patients is often constrained by ventilatory limitations, BFR training may enhance muscle adaptations while reducing respiratory stress, potentially improving the effectiveness of PR. The primary objective of this monocentric randomized crossover study is to compare lower-limb muscle fatigue induced by a single exercise session performed with BFR versus a standard exercise session in patients with COPD.

Effect of Individualized Positive End-expiratory Pressure (PEEP) in Patients Who Have an Intrinsic PEEP During One-lung Ventilation

This study investigates the effects of three extrinsic PEEP settings-5 cmH2O, 0 cmH2O, and an individualized PEEP (70% of the measured intrinsic PEEP)-on intrinsic PEEP and hemodynamic stability in patients with intrinsic PEEP undergoing lung resection surgery, using a randomized, crossover design.

Comparison Between Conventional Rehabilitation and Conventional Rehabilitation Through Dance in Patients With COPD

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as one of the most relevant conditions worldwide, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Patients classified by GOLD as groups B and E are strongly encouraged to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs. Dance has been shown to be equally or, at times, more effective as a rehabilitation strategy when compared to other types of physical activity. Objective: To compare the effect of conventional rehabilitation and the effect of conventional rehabilitation added to dance in patients with COPD. Methods: This is a conventional randomized controlled clinical trial to be carried at the Piquet Carneiro University Polyclinic, Rio de Janeiro. Patients diagnosed with COPD will be evaluated. Eligible participants will complete specific questionnaires and tests. Finally, participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will perform conventional PR twice a week and the other group will perform rehabilitation through dance twice a week using 2 different playlists. The music will be from nationally and internationally known artists during 8 weeks. The evaluation tests will be repeated at the end of the intervention. Expected results: It is expected that the group of individuals with COPD who perform rehabilitation through dance will obtain greater and better results in relation to exercise capacity, QoL and peripheral muscle strength when compared to the group that will carry out the intervention consisting of two days of conventional PR. Keywords: Dance; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Muscle strength; Quality of life; Rehabilitation.