The Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Liver Transplant Patients

NCT07327008 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IUC-FTR-AA-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 58
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Liver transplantation is defined as a surgical procedure in which a liver with tissue damage and inability to perform its functions is replaced, in whole or in part, with a healthy liver obtained from a living or deceased donor. Post-transplantation treatment includes medical treatment, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation, an important component of liver transplantation management, consists of three phases: preoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative. Telerehabilitation is currently defined as the control or monitoring of rehabilitation remotely using telecommunication-related technologies. Studies on telerehabilitation in liver transplant patients are insufficient in the literature. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a telerehabilitation-based exercise program applied to liver transplant patients on exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength, peripheral muscle strength, fatigue level and quality of life.

Conditions

Liver Transplantation; Telerehabilitation

Keywords

liver transplantation; telerehabilitation; exercise; quality of life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• 6-Minute Walk Test

  Exercise capacity will be assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test, which plays an important role in evaluating pre- and post-operative exercise performance in liver transplant patients. The test will be conducted in a 30 m long, enclosed, straight corridor under the supervision of a physiotherapist, in accordance with the criteria set by the American Thoracic Society. The patients' heart rate and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation values will be recorded before, during, and after the test using a portable pulse oximeter. Dyspnea and perceived fatigue levels will be assessed using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS) during the test. The total walking distance completed in six minutes will be recorded in meters as the individual's six-minute walk distance

  eight weeks

• Timed Up and Go Test

  Used to evaluate the balance performance of individuals during movement. The person sits in a chair of standard height (46 cm), a distance of 3 meters is measured from the chair and a cone is placed at the end of this distance to indicate it. After receiving the command "walk as fast as you can and sit back down in the chair," the person gets up, walks down the corridor for meters, turns around, walks back to the chair and sits down. The time from the moment of getting up from the chair until the person turns around and sits back down in the chair is measured with a stopwatch and recorded in seconds.

  eight weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• The Liver Disease Symptom Index 2.0

  eight weeks

• The Fatigue Severity Scale

  eight weeks

• Respiratory Muscle Strength Measurement

  eight weeks

• Muscle Strength Measurement

  eight weeks

Study Arms (2)

Telerehabilitation group

EXPERIMENTAL

The telerehabilitation group will receive videoconference-based telerehabilitation three days a week for eight weeks. All exercises will be performed under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Other: Telerehabilitation

Home exercise program group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Home exercise program group will initially be given instructions on the exercises and asked to perform them three days a week for eight weeks. They will be contacted by phone once a week to inquire whether they are doing the exercises.

Other: Home exercise

Interventions

Home exercise OTHER

Patients will be given brochures on breathing, strengthening, balance and walking exercises and asked to perform them without a physiotherapist.

Home exercise program group

Telerehabilitation OTHER

The telerehabilitation program will include breathing, strengthening, balance, and walking exercises, with increasing intensity week by week, and stretching exercises targeting major muscles will be given during the cool-down period.

Telerehabilitation group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 18-65 years of age and having undergone a liver transplant
• Having had a liver transplant operation at least 6 months prior
• Spontaneous breathing
• Hemodynamic stability
• Reading and writing skills
• Ability to mobilize independently, ability to follow verbal and visual instructions

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of unstable cardiovascular disease
• Presence of primary lung disease requiring regular bronchodilator treatment
• Presence of neuromuscular disease or neurological complications
• Musculoskeletal limitation/use of assistive devices
• Being a multiple organ transplant recipient
• Presence of orthopedic disability and functional capacity limitation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Laboratory

Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, 34500, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Telerehabilitation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services; Telemedicine; Delivery of Health Care; Patient Care Management; Health Services Administration

Central Study Contacts

Alper AYAS, MSc

CONTACT

+90 505 952 63 15; alper.ayas@ogr.iuc.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Our study has two groups. The results will be evaluated by a blinded researcher who does not know which group they are assigned to.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Model Details: There are two groups: a telerehabilitation group and home exercise program group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 24, 2025
• First Posted: January 8, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)