A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Core Exercise, Aerobic Exercise, and Combined Exercise in Patients Undergoing Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Core exercise training, conventional cardiac rehabilitation (aerobic training), combined training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Clinically Stable Myocardial Infarction or Heart Failure Patients, Heart Failure, Myocardial Infarction (MI). Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Taiwan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended after myocardial infarction (MI) or heart failure (HF), yet the added value of core muscle endurance training within CR remains uncertain. This randomized, three-arm trial will enroll 60 adults with stable MI or HF who are referred to Phase II CR. After consent and baseline testing, participants are allocated 1:1:1 to: (1) Pilates-based core endurance training, (2) standard aerobic CR (treadmill or cycle), or (3) combined aerobic plus core training. Supervised sessions occur twice weekly for eight weeks (\~60 minutes/session) with continuous safety monitoring. The primary aim is to evaluate feasibility and safety of core training in this population. The study also compares effects of the three programs on cardiorespiratory fitness and function (e.g., peak oxygen uptake, six-minute walk distance), core endurance, balance, symptoms, and health-related quality of life. Findings will clarify whether adding core training improves outcomes and inform clinical exercise prescription in CR.
Interventions
- Other Core exercise training
Two core sessions per week, 1 hour per session. Pilates-based core endurance training progressing in difficulty with emphasis on breathing and posture; exercises performed in sitting, supine, prone, and quadruped positions. - Other conventional cardiac rehabilitation (aerobic training)
Two aerobic training sessions per week, 1 hour per session. Aerobic program targets 40-80% heart-rate reserve on a treadmill or cycle ergometer. - Other combined training
One core training session and one aerobic training session per week, 1hr per session. Core program (Pilates-based) progresses in difficulty with emphasis on breathing and posture; aerobic program targets 40-80% heart-rate reserve on a treadmill or cycle ergometer.
Primary outcome measures
- Peak oxygen uptake [Time frame: Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
Secondary outcome measures (10)
- Six-minute walk distance [Time frame: Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- One-leg stand test [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- Plank endurance [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- Side plank endurance [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- Trunk flexor endurance test [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- Lumbo-pelvic control test [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- 30 seconds sit to stand test [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks]
- Hand grip strength [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks]
- Time to exhaustion at 80% of VO₂peak [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
- Body composition [Time frame: At Week 0 and after 8-week training program]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age over 18 years.
- Diagnosed with myocardial infarction or heart failure with stable condition, and referred for participation in Phase II cardiac rehabilitation.
- Able to regularly attend training sessions twice a week.
Exclusion criteria
- Underwent cardiac surgery within the past three months.
- Presence of a pacemaker, defibrillator, or left ventricular assist device.
- Cognitive impairment or dementia that prevents understanding or following training instructions.
- Inability to complete cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
- Pregnancy.
- Contraindications to cardiac rehabilitation based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines, such as unstable angina, uncontrolled severe hypertension (resting systolic BP >180 mmHg or diastolic BP >110 mmHg), orthostatic hypotension (drop in BP >20 mmHg upon position change), severe aortic stenosis, uncontrolled severe arrhythmia, decompensated heart failure, third-degree atrioventricular block, acute pericarditis or myocarditis, aortic dissection, acute pulmonary embolism, or other acute medical conditions such as infection or fever.
- Refusal to participate in the study.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Taiwan · 1 center
- National Taiwan University Hospital — Taipei
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07243769 · 202507175RINC