Study Comparing Muscle Oxygenation and Activation During Two Types of Bed-cycling Exercises in ICU Patients

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates patients who have been in the Intensive Care Unit ICU for a prolonged time and may develop ICU-acquired weakness, which causes muscle weakness in limbs and respiratory muscles. This condition is linked to worse outcomes, longer ICU stays, and higher risks of complications and death. The study aims to compare two types of bed-cycling exercises to see how they affect muscle oxygenation and activation, as well as the load on breathing and circulation in critically ill patients. Participants will take part in two types of bed-cycling exercises one is a moderate-intensity continuous cycling endurance training, and the other is a high-intensity interval cycling alternating with lower intensity periods. On Day 1, patients will get familiar with both exercises without resistance and will be randomly assigned to start with either the constant-load or interval protocol. On Days 2 and 3, they will perform the assigned exercises with intensities adjusted to ensure equal training volume across protocols. During the study, researchers will monitor muscle oxygen saturation and activation in the quadriceps muscle, along with heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and oxygen levels. They will also track adverse events and how well patients complete the exercise sessions. The study spans two different exercise days within one week, assessing differences between the two exercise methods. The total participation timeline includes familiarization and two exercise sessions, with close monitoring of safety and physiological responses.

Locomotor Muscle Oxygenation and Activation During Acute Interval Compared to Constant-load Bed-cycling Exercise