Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Pulmonary Rehab for Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Sleep in Cystic Fibrosis

NCT ID: NCT06592742

Last Updated: 2024-12-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 22 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-09-13
• Study Completion Date: 2024-12-20

Brief Summary

This study, called PRIME-CF, will look at how adding progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) to a typical pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program might help adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is a long-term disease that affects the lungs and can cause physical and mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping.

The study will involve two groups: one group will follow the usual PR program, which includes exercises to improve lung function and overall health, while the other group will also practice PMR, a technique to help relax muscles and reduce stress. The main goal is to see if adding PMR can improve participants quality of life, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality.

Investigators will use questionnaires to measure how participants feel about their mental and physical health and tests to assess their physical endurance, such as measuring how far they can walk in six minutes (6-Minute Walk Test).

Investigators hope to find a better way to support people with CF in managing their physical and emotional health by combining physical therapy with relaxation techniques.

Detailed Description

Our study aims to evaluate the effects of integrating progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) into a standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on quality of life, mental health, sleep quality, and physical endurance in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is a chronic genetic disorder that imposes a heavy physical and psychological burden on patients, often resulting in anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. While PR effectively improves lung function and physical capacity, its impact on mental health and sleep quality is less established. PMR, a relaxation technique that reduces stress and improves mental well-being, is integrated into this study's PR program to assess whether it can further enhance outcomes in CF patients.

The study will include adults with CF randomly assigned to either a control group (standard PR program) or an intervention group (PR program plus PMR). The PR program will involve daily exercise sessions, including aerobic and strength training, airway clearance techniques, and medical education. The intervention group will also participate in daily guided PMR sessions designed to reduce muscle tension and psychological stress.

The studys primary outcomes will be changes in quality of life, assessed using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R), and mental health, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Secondary outcomes include improvements in sleep quality, measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and physical endurance, assessed via the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 4-week follow-up to evaluate the sustainability of any benefits.

The study is designed to determine whether adding PMR to a PR program can meaningfully improve CF management in both the physical and mental health domains, offering a more comprehensive approach to the care of adult CF patients. The findings are expected to contribute to developing more holistic treatment protocols for CF, integrating mental health interventions into traditional pulmonary rehabilitation.

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

Keywords

cystic fibrosis; mental health; sleep quality; anxiety and depression; progressive muscle relaxation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control group (PR alone)

The control group in this study will undergo a standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program designed to improve lung function, physical endurance, and overall quality of life in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The intervention will last for 21 days, with participants attending daily sessions of structured PR. This group will not receive the progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) component.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pulmonary rehabilitation (alone)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program for the control group includes daily aerobic exercises such as treadmill walking or cycling for 20-30 minutes at moderate intensity, tailored to improve cardiovascular fitness and respiratory function. Strength training focuses on major muscle groups with resistance exercises lasting 15-20 minutes, promoting muscle strength and endurance. Airway clearance techniques are performed for 15-20 minutes daily, using methods like chest physiotherapy or positive expiratory pressure (PEP) to clear mucus from the lungs. Breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing, are practiced for 10-15 minutes to improve breathing efficiency. Participants also receive education on disease management and nutritional support to meet caloric needs.

Intervention group (PR + PMR)

The intervention group in this study will participate in the standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program, similar to the control group, but with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) sessions aimed at improving mental health, reducing anxiety, and enhancing sleep quality. This group will receive both physical and mental health interventions over the 21-day program to assess the combined impact of PR and PMR on quality of life, mental health, sleep quality, and physical endurance.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Intervention group (PR + PMR)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The intervention group will follow a Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program combined with Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Daily aerobic exercises like treadmill walking or cycling will be performed for 20-30 minutes at moderate intensity, improving cardiovascular fitness and lung function. Strength training for major muscle groups will be included, with 15-20 minutes of resistance exercises to enhance muscle strength. Airway clearance techniques, such as chest physiotherapy or PEP, will help clear mucus from the lungs in daily 15-20 minute sessions. Breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing, will be practiced for 10-15 minutes to improve breathing efficiency. The PMR component involves daily 20-30 minute guided sessions to reduce stress and anxiety through muscle relaxation techniques.

Interventions

Pulmonary rehabilitation (alone)

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program for the control group includes daily aerobic exercises such as treadmill walking or cycling for 20-30 minutes at moderate intensity, tailored to improve cardiovascular fitness and respiratory function. Strength training focuses on major muscle groups with resistance exercises lasting 15-20 minutes, promoting muscle strength and endurance. Airway clearance techniques are performed for 15-20 minutes daily, using methods like chest physiotherapy or positive expiratory pressure (PEP) to clear mucus from the lungs. Breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing, are practiced for 10-15 minutes to improve breathing efficiency. Participants also receive education on disease management and nutritional support to meet caloric needs.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Intervention group (PR + PMR)

The intervention group will follow a Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) program combined with Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Daily aerobic exercises like treadmill walking or cycling will be performed for 20-30 minutes at moderate intensity, improving cardiovascular fitness and lung function. Strength training for major muscle groups will be included, with 15-20 minutes of resistance exercises to enhance muscle strength. Airway clearance techniques, such as chest physiotherapy or PEP, will help clear mucus from the lungs in daily 15-20 minute sessions. Breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing, will be practiced for 10-15 minutes to improve breathing efficiency. The PMR component involves daily 20-30 minute guided sessions to reduce stress and anxiety through muscle relaxation techniques.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

PR; PMR

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Confirmed cystic fibrosis diagnosis based on clinical, genetic, or sweat chloride testing, as defined by established CF diagnostic criteria.
• 18 years or older at the time of enrollment
• Participants must have stable lung function, defined as a Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)
• Participants must not have had a pulmonary exacerbation requiring hospitalization or intravenous (IV) antibiotics within the past 4 weeks before the start of the study
• Physically able to engage in the daily exercise and airway clearance components of the pulmonary rehabilitation program
• Participants must be willing and able to participate in daily progressive muscle relaxation
• Participants must be on a stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks before study enrollment
• Participants must be non-smokers or have quit smoking for at least 6 months before enrollment
• Participants must be able to understand and provide written informed consent, indicating their willingness to participate in the study, adhere to the intervention schedule, and comply with follow-up assessments

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants who have experienced a pulmonary exacerbation or acute respiratory infection requiring hospitalization or intravenous (IV) antibiotics within the last 4 weeks
• Participants who have undergone a lung transplant or any other major surgery within the past 6 months
• Participants with severe comorbid conditions such as: uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, renal or liver failure, severe musculoskeletal disorders, severe or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders
• Participants who have had significant changes in their medication regimen within the last 4 weeks
• Participants with uncontrolled diabetes

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Spitalul Clinic de Boli Infecțioase și Pneumoftiziologie Dr. Victor Babeș Timișoara

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Crisan Alexandru Florian

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Alexandru Crisan, Phd

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara

Locations

Hospital of Infectious Disease and Pneumoftiziology Victor Babes

Timișoara, , Romania

Countries

Romania

Other Identifiers

4989

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id