Upper Extremity Exercises With and Without Deep Breathing After Cardiac Surgery

NCT07627009 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: KOU-CVS-ROM-DB-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized 2×2 crossover trial aims to evaluate the effects of upper extremity range of motion exercises performed with and without deep breathing on respiratory parameters in patients after open cardiac surgery. The study will include adult patients who underwent elective open cardiac surgery and are receiving postoperative care in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit. Each participant will perform both exercise protocols: upper extremity range of motion exercises alone and upper extremity range of motion exercises combined with deep breathing. The order of the two interventions will be randomized. Respiratory and clinical outcomes, including oxygen saturation, tidal volume, respiratory rate, heart rate, pain, perceived exertion, and dyspnea, will be assessed before and after each intervention.

Conditions

Cardiac Surgery

Keywords

Cardiac surgery; Range of motion exercise; Deep breathing exercise; Postoperative respiratory function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Oxygen Saturation SpO₂

  Oxygen saturation will be measured using a bedside clinical monitor or pulse oximeter. SpO₂ represents the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in the blood and will be recorded as a percentage. Higher values indicate better oxygenation.

  Baseline and immediately after each intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Respiratory Rate

  Baseline and immediately after each intervention.

• Change in Heart Rate

  Baseline and immediately after each intervention.

• Change in Pain Intensity Assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale

  Baseline and immediately after each intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Deep Breathing followed by ROM with Deep Breathing

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will first perform deep breathing exercises alone, followed by upper extremity range of motion exercises combined with deep breathing.

Behavioral: Deep Breathing Exercise; Behavioral: Upper Extremity ROM Exercise Combined with Deep Breathing

ROM with Deep Breathing followed by Deep Breathing

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will first perform upper extremity range of motion exercises combined with deep breathing, followed by deep breathing exercises alone.

Behavioral: Deep Breathing Exercise; Behavioral: Upper Extremity ROM Exercise Combined with Deep Breathing

Interventions

Deep Breathing Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform slow and deep breathing exercises in a sitting position. Measurements will be recorded before and immediately after the intervention.

Deep Breathing followed by ROM with Deep Breathing; ROM with Deep Breathing followed by Deep Breathing

Upper Extremity ROM Exercise Combined with Deep Breathing BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform bilateral upper extremity range of motion exercises while taking a slow deep breath during arm elevation and exhaling during arm lowering. The exercise will be repeated five times in a sitting position. Measurements will be recorded before and immediately after the intervention.

Deep Breathing followed by ROM with Deep Breathing; ROM with Deep Breathing followed by Deep Breathing

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• underwent elective open-heart surgery,
• stayed in the cardiovascular ICU for at least 2 nights post-operatively,
• had FiO2 below 40% (Spo2 will be kept above 92),
• were conscious,
• could speak Turkish,
• were willing to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• underwent another thoracic surgery or repeat surgery simultaneously,
• had any limb loss,
• underwent prolonged immobilization and intubation,
• developed serious complications such as infection or respiratory failure after surgery,
• had problems such as paresthesia, plegia, etc. after stroke, or had diseases such as Parkinson's that affect the level of relaxa

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kocaeli University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kocaeli University

İzmit, Kocaeli, 41100, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Amin R, Alaparthi GK, Samuel SR, Bairapareddy KC, Raghavan H, Vaishali K. Effects of three pulmonary ventilation regimes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 24;11(1):6730. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86281-4.

  PMID: 33762655 RESULT

Study Officials

• MUSTAFA CANİKOĞLU, Assist. Prof

  Kocaeli University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Yasemin Özhanlı, Assist. Prof

  Kocaeli University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Due to the nature of the exercise interventions, blinding of participants and intervention providers will not be feasible. Outcome measurements will be obtained using standard clinical monitoring devices and patient-reported scales.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assist.Prof.

Model Details: Participants will be randomized to one of two sequences. Each participant will receive both upper extremity exercise protocols, with and without deep breathing, in a 2×2 crossover design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 30, 2026
• First Posted: June 4, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 2, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Last Updated: June 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)