Brain and thigh muscle oxygen levels during different exercises in people with COPD
Official title: Brain and Peripheral Muscle Oxygenation in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi · NCT07285642 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether different exercises change brain and thigh muscle oxygen levels in people with moderate-to-severe COPD compared with similar healthy adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | November 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07285642 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 40–70 years old with stable moderate-to-severe COPD (GOLD II–III), BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m², manual muscle strength ≥4, able to perform exercise tests safely, and not enrolled in an exercise program within the past 12 months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with uncontrolled cardiac, neurological, or orthopedic disease, need for high-flow oxygen (>2 L/min), recent COPD exacerbation, prior cerebrovascular disease, other significant lung disease, skin/musculoskeletal issues at sensor sites, or inability to perform the exercises or travel to the center are unlikely to benefit from participating.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This non-randomized controlled study compares people aged 40–70 with moderate-to-severe COPD to age- and sex-matched healthy controls during a single standardized pulmonary rehabilitation session. Researchers will continuously record prefrontal cortex oxygenation with fNIRS and vastus lateralis muscle oxygenation with NIRS at rest, during a Stroop cognitive task, the six-minute walk test, and during aerobic, strengthening, and breathing exercises. The protocol includes treadmill walking, upper and lower limb resistance training, and breathing exercises, with measurements taken during exercise and recovery. The aim is to characterize how brain and muscle oxygenation responses differ by disease status and exercise type to help guide safer, individualized rehab programs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could help clinicians design safer, individualized pulmonary rehabilitation plans that keep brain and muscle oxygenation within safer ranges during exercise.
How similar studies have gone: fNIRS and NIRS have been used successfully in neurology and exercise physiology, but applying these techniques to COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation is relatively novel and less well studied.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Age 40-70 years * Diagnosis of moderate-to-severe COPD (GOLD stage II-III) * Stable disease (no exacerbation in previous 4 weeks) * BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m² * Manual muscle strength ≥ 4 (MRC scale) * Ability to perform exercise tests safely * Written informed consent Exclusion Criteria * Severe comorbid conditions (uncontrolled cardiac, neurological, or orthopedic disease) * Need for high-flow oxygen therapy (\>2 L/min) * History of cerebrovascular disease or transient ischemic attack * Musculoskeletal or dermatological conditions impairing NIRS measurement sites * Restrictive lung disease, interstitial lung disease, or small-airway disease * Participation in an exercise program within the last 12 months Healthy Controls * Age 40-70 years * No acute or chronic disease * Non-smoker * BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m² * No musculoskeletal limitations
Where it's running
-
Esra Pehlivan
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Esra Pehlivan
- Email: esra.pehlivan@sbu.edu.tr
- Phone: +90216 777 87 77
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.