Schonau Am Konigssee

This research aims to evaluate the effects of automatic oxygen titration compared to prescribed constant oxygen flow rates on the perception of breathlessness during exercise in people with chronic lung disease and hypoxaemia. Hypoxaemia, a condition marked by low oxygen levels in the blood, often limits exercise tolerance in these patients. The study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, controlled cross-over trial to better understand whether adjusting oxygen flow automatically during exercise can improve symptoms and endurance. Participants will undergo an initial test to determine their peak work rate on a cycle. They will then complete two sets of five endurance exercise training sessions each. In one set, supplemental oxygen will be delivered at a constant flow rate as prescribed for the individual. In the other, oxygen flow will be automatically adjusted to maintain oxygen saturation between 90-94%. The order of these two training sets will be randomized to compare the effects of both oxygen delivery methods. During the study, participants breathlessness will be measured throughout the training sessions, along with oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide levels, heart rate, and leg fatigue. The study will also assess participants experiences with the oxygen delivery systems. These evaluations will take place during both five-session training periods, allowing researchers to compare the outcomes of automatic versus constant oxygen flow. The total study period includes these exercise training sessions and monitoring of physiological and subjective responses.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of cold water hydrotherapy as an addition to standard rehabilitation in patients recovering from Post-COVID Syndrome, a condition marked by ongoing fatigue, autonomic nervous system imbalance, microcirculatory problems, and mild inflammation. The study aims to see if this hydrotherapy improves quality of life compared to standard rehabilitation alone. This randomized controlled trial is sponsored by Schn Klinik Berchtesgadener Land and focuses on functional recovery during Post-COVID rehabilitation. Participants receive either standard multimodal inpatient rehabilitation with cold water hydrotherapy sessions lasting 5 to 10 minutes twice daily during the 3-week inpatient program and once daily during a 6-month follow-up, or the same rehabilitation without hydrotherapy. The study includes a 3-week inpatient treatment period plus a 6-month follow-up to monitor lasting effects. Hydrotherapy is applied as cold water treatments designed to support autonomic regulation, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and aid muscle recovery. During the study, participants provide baseline information including symptoms, smoking history, comorbidities, and severity of their initial COVID-19 illness. They undergo pulmonary function tests, autonomic function assessments, and blood pressure measurements. Researchers track quality of life using the Short Form-12 Health Survey and evaluate fatigue, sleep quality, autonomic function, blood pressure, work absence, heart rate variability, and symptom severity. Adherence to hydrotherapy and any adverse events are monitored throughout the intervention and follow-up, with daily well-being diaries kept. The total participation lasts about six months from baseline.