Comparative Effects of Elliptical Exercises and Swiss Ball Aerobics Exercises in Post CABG Patients

NCT07578805 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Khadija Nawaz
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial will compare the effectiveness of elliptical exercise training and Swiss ball exercise therapy in post-CABG patients. A total of 32 participants will be recruited through convenient sampling and randomly allocated into two groups (16 each). Group A will receive supervised elliptical exercise training, while Group B will perform Swiss ball exercises, with sessions conducted three times per week for 6-8 weeks. Outcomes including functional exercise capacity (Six-Minute Walk Test), resting heart rate (pulse oximetry), dyspnea (Modified Borg Scale), and quality of life (SF-36) will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Data will be analyzed using SPSS to determine the more effective rehabilitation approach for improving recovery after CABG.

Conditions

CABG

Keywords

CABG,; dyspnea,; elliptical exercises,; functional capacity,; quality of life,; Swiss ball exercises

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• functional capacity

  6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a practical and widely used assessment tool to measure exercise capacity and functional status in individuals with various health conditions. To perform the test, a flat, straight corridor with a measured distance is required. The individual is instructed to walk at their own pace, aiming to cover as much distance as possible within the 6-minute time frame. They can slow down, stop, or rest if needed, but the timer continues to run. The test administrator records the total distance walked, as well as any symptoms, such as shortness of breath or fatigue. The 6MWT is a valuable tool for assessing exercise capacity improvement, as it reflects an individual's ability to perform daily activities and can be used to monitor changes in functional status over time or in response to interventions, such as exercise training or rehabilitation programs. By tracking changes in distance walked, healthcare providers can evaluate the effectiveness of treatment plan.

  pretreatment, 4th week, 8th week

• Heart rate

  A pulse oximeter, often referred to as a pulse ox, is a small, non-invasive medical device that clips onto a fingertip, toe, or earlobe to measure two critical health metrics: oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate. Oxygen saturation indicates the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen, while heart rate measures the number of heart beats per minute (bpm). To use a pulse oximeter for measuring heart rate, simply place the device on the chosen site, ensuring a snug fit, and turn it on. After a few seconds, the device will display both your oxygen saturation level and heart rate. It's essential to remain still during measurement to ensure accuracy, as movement can interfere with the readings. A pulse oximeter is a valuable tool for monitoring heart rate, especially for individuals with heart conditions, respiratory issues, or those engaging in high-altitude activities. By providing quick and reliable readings, it helps users track their heart rate in real-time.

  pretreatment, 4th week, 8th week.

• Dyspnoea

  The Modified Borg Scale is a widely used tool to assess the severity of dyspnea (shortness of breath) in patients. It is a simple, self-reported scale that asks patients to rate the intensity of their breathlessness from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating "no breathlessness" and 10 indicating "maximal breathlessness." To use the Modified Borg Scale, patients are asked to select a number that corresponds to the severity of their dyspnea, with descriptors provided for each level of severity, such as "slight" (1-2), "moderate" (3-4), "severe" (5-6), and "very severe" (7-10). This scale helps healthcare providers quantify the impact of dyspnea on patients' daily lives and monitor changes in symptoms over time or in response to treatment. By regularly assessing dyspnea using the Modified Borg Scale, healthcare providers can tailor interventions to meet individual patient needs, evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, and improve patient outcomes.

  pretreatment, 4th week, 8th week

• Quality of life in post-CABG patients

  The Short Form 36 (SF-36) is a widely used, multi-dimensional health survey that measures eight domains of health status: physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional functioning, and mental health. It is a self-reported questionnaire that assesses an individual's perceived health and well-being over a specific period, typically the past four weeks. The SF-36 is used in various settings, including clinical trials, health services research, and individual patient assessments, to evaluate the impact of diseases, treatments, and interventions on quality of life. To use the SF-36, patients are asked to complete the questionnaire, which consists of 36 items. The results provide a comprehensive profile of the patient's health status, allowing healthcare providers to identify areas of strength and weakness, monitor changes over time, and make informed decisions about care. The SF-36's scores can also be used to compare the health status of differ

  pretreatment, 4th week , 8th week

Study Arms (2)

Group A

EXPERIMENTAL

Group A will be recieving elliptical exercise (Steady state moderate intensity protocol on elliptical trainer, interval elliptical training)

Other: elliptical exercises

Group B

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group B will be recieving swiss ball exercises (Seated arm raises with light weights and bands, seated torso rotation,seated bouncing,arm circles and punches while sitting,diaphragmatic breathing with ball hug, wall squat with swiss ball support).

Other: swiss ball exercises

Interventions

elliptical exercises OTHER

Participants allocated to the this group will undergo a structured aerobic training program using an elliptical trainer. The exercise prescription will adhere to the FITT framework as follows: frequency of five sessions per week, moderate intensity (targeting approximately 50-70% of heart rate reserve or corresponding Rating of Perceived Exertion of 12-14 on the Borg scale), and duration of 30 minutes per session. Each session will be supervised and will include appropriate warm-up and cool-down periods according to standard cardiac rehabilitation protocols. The intervention will be delivered consistently throughout the study period using an elliptical exercise modality.

Group A

swiss ball exercises OTHER

Participants allocated to this group will receive a structured exercise program using Swiss ball-based training. The intervention will follow the FITT principle as follows: frequency of five sessions per week, moderate intensity (corresponding to a Rating of Perceived Exertion of 12-14 on the Borg scale), and duration of 30 minutes per session. The exercise type will consist of flexibility and breathing exercises performed with the Swiss ball. Each session will be supervised and will include standardized warm-up and cool-down components in accordance with established rehabilitation protocols. The intervention will be delivered consistently throughout the study period.

Group B

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Adult patients aged 40 to 60 years who have undergone elective or scheduled coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.
• Post-operative duration between 2 to 6 weeks, medically cleared to begin rehabilitation exercises.
• Hemodynamically stable (normal vital signs, no signs of acute cardiac distress).
• Willing and able to participate in a supervised rehabilitation program.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction (\<2 weeks), or uncontrolled arrhythmias.
• Patients with severe valvular heart disease or left ventricular ejection fraction \<30%.
• Individuals with neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke) that impair mobility or coordination.
• Patients with severe musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., joint replacement, severe arthritis, recent fractures).
• Cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia, significant memory loss) that prevents understanding or following instructions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Riphah International University

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Athanasiou A, Papazachou O, Rovina N, Nanas S, Dimopoulos S, Kourek C. The Effects of Exercise Training on Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2024 May 22;11(6):161. doi: 10.3390/jcdd11060161.

  PMID: 38921661 BACKGROUND

• Bilajac L, Marinovic Glavic M, Kristijan Z, Matea B, Juraga D, Jelakovic A, Rukavina T, Vasiljev V, Jelakovic B. Breaking the Cycle: Enhancing Cardiovascular Health in the Elderly Through Group Exercise. Life (Basel). 2025 Jan 29;15(2):206. doi: 10.3390/life15020206.

  PMID: 40003614 BACKGROUND

• Reed JL, Terada T, Cotie LM, Tulloch HE, Leenen FH, Mistura M, Hans H, Wang HW, Vidal-Almela S, Reid RD, Pipe AL. The effects of high-intensity interval training, Nordic walking and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training on functional capacity, depression and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation: A randomized controlled trial (CRX study). Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 Jan-Feb;70:73-83. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2021.07.002. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

  PMID: 34245777 BACKGROUND

• Saba MA, Goharpey S, Attarbashi Moghadam B, Salehi R, Nejatian M. Correlation Between the 6-Min Walk Test and Exercise Tolerance Test in Cardiac Rehabilitation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Cross-sectional Study. Cardiol Ther. 2021 Jun;10(1):201-209. doi: 10.1007/s40119-021-00210-0. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

  PMID: 33586086 BACKGROUND

• Anderson L, Thompson DR, Oldridge N, Zwisler AD, Rees K, Martin N, Taylor RS. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jan 5;2016(1):CD001800. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001800.pub3.

  PMID: 26730878 BACKGROUND

• Ciftci H, Korkut S, Karaca S. The Effect of Breathing Exercise With Incentive Spirometer on Pain, Anxiety, Comfort, and Physiological Parameters Before and After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Experimental Study. J Perianesth Nurs. 2025 Dec;40(6):1460-1468. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2025.02.005. Epub 2025 Jun 9.

  PMID: 40488685 BACKGROUND

• Hillis LD, Smith PK, Anderson JL, Bittl JA, Bridges CR, Byrne JG, Cigarroa JE, Disesa VJ, Hiratzka LF, Hutter AM Jr, Jessen ME, Keeley EC, Lahey SJ, Lange RA, London MJ, Mack MJ, Patel MR, Puskas JD, Sabik JF, Selnes O, Shahian DM, Trost JC, Winniford MD; American College of Cardiology Foundation; American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines; American Association for Thoracic Surgery; Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists; Society of Thoracic Surgeons. 2011 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Developed in collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 Dec 6;58(24):e123-210. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2011.08.009. Epub 2011 Nov 7. No abstract available.

  PMID: 22070836 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dyspnea

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Wajeeha Zia, phd

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Imran Amjad, Phd

CONTACT

03324390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2026
• First Posted: May 11, 2026
• Study Start: May 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 20, 2026
• Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)