Exercise Therapy

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a 12-week hybrid exercise and education program (EmpowerHer) works to improve health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors aged 35 to 65. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the EmpowerHer program improve the everyday quality of life of participants? * Does the program lower fatigue, anxiety, and depression while raising physical fitness? Researchers will compare the EmpowerHer program to usual medical care to see if the program works better to help survivors recover. Participants will: * Use a mobile application at home at least twice a week for structured exercise. * Read short educational modules on the mobile application about health after cancer. * Attend weekly in-person motivational group sessions with a program facilitator. * Complete health and physical tests at the start, at 12 weeks, and 3 months later.

Up to half of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) suffer from impaired quality of life, reduced physical capacity, and symptoms like shortness of breath even three months after diagnosis, despite standard treatment with anticoagulation (blood thinners). The randomized RehabPE trial investigates whether an early, structured rehabilitation program with physical training and patient education can prevent such long-term effects. The study includes hospitalized patients with acute symptomatic PE who are at increased risk of impaired quality of life three months after diagnosis. After informed consent, patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receives an early 6-8-week, center-based rehabilitation program; the other receives standard follow-up care without rehabilitation. The intervention group completes 16-18 outpatient sessions of endurance and strength training, along with two education sessions covering the condition, treatment, and symptom management. Over 180 days, changes in quality of life, physical exercise capacity, breathlessness, and psychological symptoms, and the time to return to work / usual daily activities will be monitored and compared between groups.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether high-dose multimodal prehabilitation, delivered either in person or remotely with coaching and web application support, is feasible and acceptable for women preparing for ovarian cancer surgery. It will also examine which delivery model patients prefer and the factors influencing patient preferences. The main questions ADAPT-OC aims to answer are: 1. Can participants achieve the prescribed aerobic exercise target of at least 10 MET-hours per week before surgery? 2. Do patients prefer in-person prehabilitation, remote prehabilitation, or education-only care, and what factors influence that preference? The researchers will compare in-person prehabilitation, remote prehabilitation, and education-only care to see which delivery approach is most feasible, acceptable, and practical for patients with suspected ovarian cancer. Participants will: * Choose their preferred study group, or be randomly assigned if they have no preference * Complete physical assessments, questionnaires, and interviews at baseline, 1-3 days before surgery, and 4 weeks after surgery * If assigned to a prehabilitation group, complete aerobic exercise, protein supplementation, and daily breathing exercises before surgery * Attend weekly coaching sessions with a trained prehabilitation coach * Use the KingstonPrehab web application to track exercise, nutrition, breathing practice, and progress toward activity goals

Objective: To compare the effects of MCT versus EBT on functional fitness, postural balance, and HRQoL in older women. Methods: Single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial lasting 16 weeks (2 sessions/week, 60 min). Twenty

De Quervain's disease is a painful tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscle tendons located in the first dorsal compartment. The primary treatment for De Quervain's disease is conservative; surgical intervention is rarely required. Currently, there is no standardized treatment protocol supported by strong, up-to-date evidence. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a static hand-wrist resting splint and exercise therapy in the conservative treatment of De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Patients will be evaluated in terms of pain levels, functional/symptom status, hand-finger strength, pressure pain threshold (PPT), tendon cross-sectional area measured by ultrasound, and the presence of effusion findings (semiquantitative; 0-3), and patient satisfaction.

This study looks at whether Street Racket is a feasable activity that can be added to pulmonary rehabilitation for people with chronic lung disease. Participants complete short questionnaires at the start and end of the program to rate the feasibility and rate their breathlessness during each session. Attendance is recorded to understand how well the activity is used and whether there are any barriers.

Research has shown that for women who are undergoing pelvic radiation therapy, fatigue is a common side effect. Fatigue that occurs during radiation therapy can make it harder to perform daily living activities. While there are studies that recommend exercise as a treatment for fatigue in cancer patients and survivors, there are currently no studies that focus on the role of exercise for women undergoing pelvic radiation therapy. The purpose of this study is to see if incorporating an activity coaching program is helpful in improving treatment-related fatigue for women undergoing pelvic radiation therapy for endometrial cancer.

This study investigating the effects of mat pilates on body awareness and physical activity levels in sedentary women transitioning to adulthood, 27 control groups and 27 mat pilates exercise groups will be included. The groups will be compared at the end of an 8-week exercise program. Participants' socio-demographic characteristics, body awareness (using the Body Awareness Questionnaire), and physical activity level (using the Tegner Physical Activity Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short-form scales) will be assessed.

The purpose of this research is to determine whether a 16-week high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise program will improve brain health among women undergoing chemotherapy and also improve cardiovascular (heart) function. The names of the study interventions involved in this study are/is: * High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

This randomized controlled clinical study aims to investigate and compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), when combined with intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) therapy, on limb volume, functional capacity, pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and quality of life in women with lipedema. Lipedema is a chronic, progressive adipose tissue disorder primarily affecting women, characterized by abnormal and symmetrical fat accumulation in the lower extremities that does not improve with weight loss or limb elevation. It is often misdiagnosed as obesity or lymphedema, leading to delayed treatment. Lipedema causes pain, swelling, bruising, mobility limitation, and reduced quality of life. Conservative treatment options include compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, and exercise. IPC is a non-invasive treatment used to reduce limb volume and pain while improving function and quality of life. Exercise is also a cornerstone of conservative management, but the optimal exercise intensity for lipedema remains unclear. In this study, 69 female patients aged 18-65 years diagnosed with lipedema according to Halk and Damstra criteria will be randomly assigned into three groups: IPC + Home-based walking program IPC + High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) IPC + Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) All participants will receive 15 IPC sessions (3 times per week for 5 weeks). The exercise programs (HIIT or MICT) will continue for 10 weeks, supervised by a physiotherapist. The home-based group will be encouraged to walk ≥10,000 steps daily using a pedometer application. Primary outcome: Change in limb volume measured by circumferential measurements and the truncated cone formula. Secondary outcomes: Pain (VAS), functional capacity (6-Minute Walk Test), muscle strength (dynamometry), pressure pain threshold (algometry), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), lower extremity function (LEFS), quality of life (SF-12), sleep quality (PSQI), fatigue (FSS), and anxiety/depression (HADS). Measurements will be taken at baseline (T0), after 15 IPC sessions (T1), and after 30 total sessions or 10 weeks (T2). The investigators hypothesize that both HIIT and MICT combined with IPC will provide superior improvements in physical and psychological outcomes compared to IPC with a home-based walking program alone.

Pain neuroscience education is currently one of the techniques being explored in physiotherapy for pain management. The benefits of this technique are gradually becoming evident in various published studies. So far, it has been widely studied for its short-term effects, but the education provided has typically been generic, not focused on exercise. However, it is suggested that this technique should be combined with exercise to achieve the expected outcomes. Therefore, pain education should be tailored to the specific physical activities the subject will perform to maximise its effectiveness. The primary aim of this study is to analyse the outcome of combining exercise with tailored pain neuroscience education on aspects such as pain, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, exercise conceptualization, and upper limb function in subjects with neck pain. The secondary aim is to evaluate the relationship between kinesiophobia and catastrophizing and their impact on the results of various upper limb performance tests. Finally, the effects of therapeutic exercise alone will be compared with those of therapeutic exercise combined with pain neuroscience education, focusing on pain, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and exercise conceptualization. A double-blind, randomised clinical trial has been designed, in which three intervention protocols will be applied to 81 subjects with non-specific neck pain: education with exercise, exercise alone, and placebo alone. Subjects with non-specific neck pain who meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled. Demographic characteristics of the subjects, as well as pain, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and upper limb performance test scores, will be assessed. This study aims to explore the potential relevance of a pain neuroscience education session prior to therapeutic exercise, as well as to influence the clinical recommendations made by clinicians during treatment.

Brief Summary: This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate whether active remote symptom monitoring and management via a smartphone app utilizing electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) can improve adherence to prescribed outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation exercises among postsurgical lung cancer patients. Eligible patients will use the app for perioperative care and be randomized to an intervention group receiving ePRO-based symptom monitoring with clinician feedback or a control group receiving ePRO without feedback. The primary outcome is rehabilitation exercise adherence rate over 1 month after discharge. If proven effective, the app-enabled remote rehabilitation model can be scaled up to enhance recovery for more postoperative patients. Due to slower-than-expected recruitment, an interim analysis was introduced through a protocol amendment. The amendment was approved by the Ethics Committee before conducting the analysis, and the plan was incorporated into the updated study record. The interim review evaluated feasibility and informed the addition of mean weekly exercise duration as a co-primary endpoint with adjusted statistical thresholds.

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of Schroth exercises on scapular muscle activation in children with thoracic hyperkyphosis. A total of 56 participants will be randomly assigned to either the Schroth exercise group or the control group receiving postural education. The intervention group will complete an 8-week supervised Schroth program focusing on three-dimensional correction, rotational breathing, and postural awareness. Primary outcome is scapular muscle activation measured by surface EMG. Secondary outcomes include muscle strength, scapular endurance, kyphotic appearance, posture, and pain. The results will guide clinical management and preventive strategies for children with postural thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Chronic low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder that causes pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. It is often related to changes in trunk muscle function, thoracolumbar fascia morphology, and impaired balance control. Although conventional motor control exercises are effective, patient motivation and adherence can be limited. Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation offers interactive and engaging environments that may improve compliance and provide additional therapeutic benefits. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of VR-based rehabilitation compared with conventional motor control exercises in individuals with chronic low back pain. A total of 40-50 participants aged 18-65 will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) VR-based rehabilitation or (2) conventional exercise therapy. Both programs will last 8 weeks, delivered three times per week for 40 minutes per session. The primary outcomes include muscle architecture assessed by ultrasound imaging, thoracolumbar fascia morphology, and postural balance control measured by force platform tests. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity, disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. The findings of this study are expected to provide new insights into the role of VR in rehabilitation and contribute to evidence-based strategies for managing chronic low back pain. By exploring the effects on both physical and patient-reported outcomes, the study may highlight innovative approaches to improve adherence, reduce pain, and enhance daily function in affected individuals.

This study is being done to test if paraffin wax can be used to improve the range of motion and function for scars across joints when used in combination with scar rehabilitation therapy sessions. For those randomized to receive it, the paraffin wax will be used alongside the participants' exercise therapy treatments. Currently, treatments that are used in addition to rehabilitation therapy for increasing range of motion across joints in the burn population are limited. By getting more information about how paraffin wax may or may not work, patients in the future that have scars may be able to be helped.

Background: Obesity is a prevalent multifactorial disease worldwide and has become a significant public health concern. The latest data from the 2022 Catalonia Health Survey show that 56.2% of men and 43.7% of women are overweight or obese, and 39% of children aged 6 to 12 years have excess weight. Excess adiposity poses a health risk as it is associated with various chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, all of which affect quality of life and increase mortality risk. Hypothesis: The Energy2MOB obesity management programme in Berguedà is a group-based intervention incorporating nutrition education and physical activity. It aims to reduce excess body weight and the risk of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension, through a multicomponent approach that enhances dietary habits, physical activity, and emotional eating regulation. Objectives * Assess the effectiveness of the Energy2MOB programme in reducing body weight by 5-10% among adults with obesity in the Berguedà health region. * Measure lifestyle modifications, including dietary habits, physical activity, and emotional eating. Methodology: A randomised clinical trial with two groups (control and intervention) over one year, including individuals aged 18-65 years in the Berguedà health region with overweight grade II (BMI 27-30 kg/m²) or obesity (BMI 30-40 kg/m²). Exclusion criteria include significant language barriers, previous bariatric surgery, moderate to severe cognitive impairment, and severe psychiatric disorders preventing participation in sessions. Participants must attend at least 80% of the programme. Measurements * Sociodemographic factors: sex, age, education level, marital status, employment status. * Lifestyle factors: alcohol and tobacco use, dietary habits, physical activity, emotional eating, health-related quality of life. * Anthropometric parameters: body weight, height, BMI, waist circumference. * Blood pressure, medication use, biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile, liver and kidney function markers, C-reactive protein). Statistical Analysis: Accepting an alpha risk of 0.05 and a statistical power above 0.8 in a bilateral contrast, 68 subjects per group are required to detect a difference of at least 2.5 kg. A common standard deviation of 4.77 is assumed, with an estimated 15% dropout rate. Sample size calculations were performed using GRANMO version 8.0 (https://www.datarus.eu/ca/aplications/granmo/; consulted in November 2024). Expected Outcomes, Applicability, and Relevance: This study aims to generate scientific evidence on the effectiveness of multicomponent group-based interventions focused on improving nutrition, physical activity, and psychological well-being in obesity and chronic disease management. It seeks to create an environment that facilitates behavioural changes, leading to weight reduction and improved quality of life. The findings will also contribute to the development of a practical guide for addressing excess weight in primary healthcare settings. Keywords (maximum 6): Adult obesity, primary health care, group interventions, dietary interventions, multicomponent interventions, Mediterranean diet.

Personalized medicine and individualized therapeutic approaches are prominent in current research. But are these approaches also effective for treating non-specific low back pain (NSLBP)? NSLBP is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues, which can impair physical well-being, reduce the quality of life, and limit physical functioning. Additionally, it contributes to substantial direct and indirect healthcare costs, such as frequent doctor visits and work absences. Despite NSLBP being a significant burden for both individuals and society, effective alleviation methods remain unclear. The investigators' research project therefore aims to investigate whether personalized therapy, specifically a personalized physical back training program, can effectively address NSLBP. Within the context of NSLBP, the investigators' specific aim is to improve physical functioning as this outcome is considered relevant from all perspectives, including those of patients, clinical professionals, researchers, and guidelines.

Ten patients with PAH who are stable and eligible to initiate sotatercept therapy will participate in a 26 week study that consists of a 24-week intervention period where patients will receive complimentary sotatercept as prescribed, plus a tailored, progressive home exercise program with wrist-worn fitness tracker and oxygen saturation monitoring.

Physical activity decreases as young people get older, especially during the shift from early to late adolescence. Unfortunately, around 81% of school-aged children worldwide between the ages of 11 and 17 do not meet the recommendation of at least one hour of physical activity per day - and this is also true in Switzerland. Not being active enough, whether normal weight or overweight, can lead to long-term health problems and is a major factor in becoming overweight over time. This results in healthcare costs and negatively affects quality of life. Supporting physical activity in overweight youth requires well-rounded, thoughtful programs. The investigators studying the impact of the movement programs now! and now!+ on the physical activity and health of young people. The goal is to look at both physical and mental changes equally. Taking part in this study involves minimal physical or mental risk for the participants. These small risks from the testing methods and activities are taken into account in how the program is explained and carried out. The benefits for the participants - feeling healthier and fitter physically, and more confident and capable mentally - clearly outweigh any potential risks, thanks to the additional, guided, and personalized exercise program. The participants take part in the now! and now!+ exercise programs run by the Basel-Stadt Sports Office and the DSBG. now! is a 90-minute group session with up to 14 young people, while now!+ is a 90-minute small-group session with 2 to 4 participants. Both programs take place once a week over a 12-month period and pause during school holidays (38 training weeks in total). Each session includes a warm-up, a strength or endurance training block, and a coordination phase. The program is modular and adapted to the physical and personal needs of each participant. This ensures that overweight adolescents are not overstrained and don't develop symptoms like pain, frustration, or lack of motivation (Behringer et al., 2011), while still allowing for a training stimulus that supports physical improvement. The results of the evaluations are directly used to improve and further develop the exercise program. The overall project includes three rounds, each consisting of one year of training and three test sessions, each lasting about two hours. The now! and now!+ programs are held weekly for a total of 38 weeks per year, with breaks during school holidays. Each of the three test sessions includes the same set of assessments (see "Study Intervention") and follows a set order: The process begins with measuring body size and blood pressure, followed by a static retinal vessel analysis. After these medical checks, participants do a 5-minute warm-up on a stationary bike at a set resistance level. Then, strength tests are performed: knee extension on the IsoMed 2000, handgrip strength, and jump power on the Leonardo force plate. The endurance test using spiroergometry marks the end of the physical assessments. Finally, impulse control is tested, and participants complete a set of questionnaires. At the end of the session, each participant is given an actigraph (a small motion sensor worn on the body) to track their physical activity over the following seven days.

The present clinical trial aims to identify if skills acquired during aquatic exercise are more effectively transferred to a reactive balance task than land exercise. This study is designed as a double-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial. Forty-four older adults aged 60 years or above who meet the eligibility criteria will be recruited and randomized into an aquatic exercise group or land exercise group. Each group will participate in the same balance training exercise during a single session that includes a ball throwing and catching task. A modified lean-and-release test will be implemented on land immediately before, after, and one week after the training session. The outcomes will include reaction time, rapid response accuracy, and mini-BESTest scores obtained from stepping and grasping reactions.

Shoulder pain is a debilitating musculoskeletal condition with functional, physical, and psychological impacts. Interventions for chronic shoulder pain should address the biopsychosocial model, with Cognitive Functional Therapy emerging as a promising physiotherapy approach. Cognitive Functional Therapy approaches the multidimensional nature of pain, integrating physical and cognitive aspects. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Cognitive Functional Therapy with therapeutic exercise on biological aspects of pain (pain intensity, disability, function, perception of improvement/deterioration, and central pain processing), and psychosocial aspects of pain (sleep quality, self-efficacy, and biopsychosocial factors). The hypothesis of this study is that CFT will lead to greater improvements in these outcomes compared to therapeutic exercise.

This pilot randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) will assess the feasibility and identify the key components necessary for conducting the main RCT, which will involve the comparison of Cognitive Functional Therapy with Therapeutic Exercises in individuals with chronic shoulder pain. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What barriers to the participation of the included individuals might arise? * Will the assessment procedures and outcome measures be feasible and suitable? * What time will be necessary to conduct the assessments? * Will participants be willing to be randomized to the proposed treatment groups? * What barriers to the clinical delivery of Cognitive Functional Therapy in the healthcare system might exist? * Will the treatment(s) be acceptable to patients? * Will participants adhere to the treatment? * What will the recruitment rates be per week/month? * Will there be any selection bias? * Will participant retention be high among the allocation groups? * Will the data be complete? * What will the data variability be? * Will the treatment effects/outcomes be consistent with expectations and previous literature?

In this pilot study the focus is to assess the perceived impact of Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) on post-exercise recovery in University athletes. The objective is to determine if FST can expedite recovery and enhance overall well-being by reducing muscle soreness and fatigue. The FST protocol will be implement by a certified FST level 2 practitioner. Upon completion of the FST intervention athletes will complete a self-assessment questionnaire. The study aims to provide empirical support for FST's efficacy in improving post-exercise recovery and contributing to the health and performance of university athletes.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common chronic musculoskeletal disorder worldwide and is responsible for the highest levels of disability of all diseases. All state-of-the-art guidelines recommend implementing exercise therapy (ET) in CLBP management. Researchers have shown that a novel ET modality, namely high intensity training (HIT), can be valuable. A clinical evaluation study in a larger spectrum of persons with CLBP in a rehabilitation centre setting is essential. Thereby, technology might support HIT. The primary goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of a time contingent individualized High intensity training (HIT) protocol on disability compared to moderate intensity training (MIT) in persons with severely disabling chronic low back pain (CLBP). Secondary goals entail 1) evaluating short- and long-term effectiveness of HIT on psychosocial correlates, central pain processing, and broad physical fitness, 2) investigating additional effects of (prolonged) HIT at home, 3) investigating added value of technology through a mobile (smartphone) and dashboard (computer) application that offers support during home training, 4) evaluating cost-effectiveness of (technology supported) HIT compared to MIT. The main research question\[s\] (RQ) it aims to answer are: * RQ1: To what extent is HIT effective on the short- and long term to improve disability in persons with severely disabling CLBP compared to MIT as used in usual care? * RQ2a: To what extent does HIT have a short- and/or long-term effect on central pain processing and psychosocial correlates in persons with severely disabling CLBP? * RQ2b:To what extent does HIT have a short- and/or long-term effect on outcomes related to broad physical fitness in persons with severely disabling CLBP? * RQ3a: To what extent does prolonged (technology-supported) HIT at home provide additional training effects in persons with severely disabling CLBP? * RQ3b:To what extent does a mobile application that offers support for HIT at home provide added value for treatment outcomes of persons with severely disabling CLBP? * RQ3c:To what extent is the techno-HIT application usable and qualitative (assessed by SUS and uMARS) as a therapeutic support mechanism, as evaluated by persons with severely disabling CLBP? * RQ4: To what extent is HIT or HIT supported by a mobile application cost effective compared to MIT for patients with severely disabling CLBP?

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, and is associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Physical activity and lifestyle interventions are among the most recommended treatments for individuals with MASLD. In this RCT, we will evaluate the effect of combined exercise training "strength and aerobic training" versus "strength and high intensity training (HIIT)". The main outcome parameter is the severity of liver steatosis. Patients will be recruited at the fatty liver clinic of the UZ Gent.