Effects of The Telerehabilitation-Based Exercise Program in Liver Transplant Patients

NCT07425314 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/113
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of a telerehabilitation-based exercise program on muscle strength, exercise capacity, fatigue level, and cognitive status in adult liver transplant recipients. Liver transplantation is a major surgical procedure, and patients may experience reduced physical capacity, muscle weakness, and fatigue during recovery. Exercise-based rehabilitation may help improve these outcomes, but access to in-person rehabilitation programs may be limited after discharge. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving routine post-transplant care or an intervention group participating in a supervised telerehabilitation exercise program. The intervention consists of a 12-week program conducted twice weekly via video communication with a physiotherapist. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the program. The study seeks to determine whether a structured, remotely supervised exercise program can improve functional recovery and reduce fatigue in liver transplant patients, potentially offering an accessible rehabilitation option after hospital discharge.

Conditions

Liver Transplantation; Postoperative Recovery; Muscle Weakness; Functional Capacity

Keywords

Physiotherapy; Liver Transplantation; Telerehabilitation; Functional Capacity; Fatigue

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance

  Change in functional exercise capacity measured by the distance (meters) walked during the 6-minute walk test.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and end of the 12-week intervention period

• Fatigue Severity Scale

  Change in fatigue severity measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Total scores range from 9 to 63, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and end of the 12-week intervention period

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)

  Baseline and end of 12 weeks

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score

  Baseline and end of 12 weeks

• Heart Rate

  Baseline and end of 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Telerehabilitation Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm received a structured telerehabilitation-based exercise program in addition to routine post-transplant care. The program was conducted for 12 weeks, twice weekly, via real-time video communication with a physiotherapist. Sessions included warm-up exercises, posture and breathing exercises, isometric strengthening exercises, functional movements such as sit-to-stand, walking training, and cool-down stretching. Exercise intensity was maintained at a moderate level and progressed gradually throughout the program.

Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Exercise Group

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to this arm continued their routine daily activities and received standard post-transplant care without participating in a structured or supervised exercise or rehabilitation program during the study period.

Interventions

Telerehabilitation Exercise Group BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group received a structured telerehabilitation-based exercise program delivered under real-time supervision by a physiotherapist. The intervention lasted 12 weeks and was conducted twice weekly via video communication. Each session lasted approximately 30-45 minutes and included warm-up exercises, posture and breathing exercises, isometric strengthening exercises for upper and lower extremities, functional exercises such as sit-to-stand, and walking training, followed by cool-down and stretching. Exercise intensity was maintained at a moderate level based on perceived exertion, and progression was applied throughout the program by increasing repetitions and duration to ensure adaptation and safety. Participants were initially instructed face-to-face before discharge and then continued the program remotely after discharge.

Telerehabilitation Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Adult liver transplant recipients aged 18 years or older
• Medically stable and cleared for participation in an exercise program
• Able to communicate and cooperate with the researcher
• Literate and able to understand instructions
• No orthopedic or neurological condition that would limit exercise participation
• Approximately one month post-discharge following liver transplantation
• Willing to participate and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of medical conditions that contraindicate exercise participation
• Severe cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders that could interfere with the exercise program
• Cognitive impairment preventing understanding of instructions or participation in assessments
• Postoperative complications requiring activity restriction
• Participation in another structured exercise or rehabilitation program during the study period
• Refusal or inability to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hasan Kalyoncu University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Inonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center

Malatya, 4400, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Muscle Weakness; Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Ilker Demir, PhD

  Inonu University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The intervention group received a structured telerehabilitation-based exercise program in addition to routine post-transplant care, while the control group continued routine daily activities without a supervised exercise intervention. The study followed a parallel assignment design in which participants remained in their allocated group throughout the 12-week intervention period, and outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2026
• First Posted: February 20, 2026
• Study Start: October 12, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 15, 2025
• Study Completion: November 28, 2025
• Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

TU (1)