HomeBFR-COPD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Home-based body weight-exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR): feasibility of a novel rehabilitation intervention in COPD patients.
IRAS ID
312789
Contact name
Richard Ferguson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research & Innovation office
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Exercise training, as part of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme, is an important component of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as it demonstrates clinically important improvements in exercise capacity, muscle structure and function and health related quality of life. However, despite the clear benefits of PR, there are significant issues with access, uptake, and completion; only patients with significant dyspnoea (MRC 3 or above) are referred for PR, and of those assessed, physical, psychological, or financial factors pose barriers to uptake and adherence to PR.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact upon the provision of PR. In response, services have developed a range of different delivery models to support individuals with COPD.
Low-intensity exercise with BFR has been shown in healthy individuals to yield positive adaptive responses within the skeletal muscle (including muscle strength and endurance) despite a greatly reduced exercise load. This research will investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-week home-based exercise intervention of body weight exercise with blood flow restriction in patients with COPD. The research will also investigate the effect of the 6-week home-based body weight exercise with BFR intervention on measures of physical function and health related quality of life in 20 COPD patients and compare this group with 20 patients who receive the same exercise protocol but without blood flow restriction. Whilst we do not propose BFR exercise as a replacement for traditional PR, it has the potential to provide an alternative treatment option delivered in a home setting and could be used to target those not able or willing to attend traditional PR programmes.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0069
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion