Improving walking ability in elderly patients with ICU-acquired weakness

Inspiratory Muscle Training Outcomes in Sufferers of Severe Walking Disabilities and Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness

Not applicable Interventional Cairo University · NCT06210763

This study is testing if adding breathing exercises to regular physical therapy can help older patients with weakness from being in the ICU walk better and regain their strength.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages65 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorCairo University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Giza)
Trial IDNCT06210763 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of a specific intervention on elderly patients suffering from ICU-acquired weakness, a condition that can severely impact mobility and daily activities. Forty patients will be randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving additional inspiratory muscle training (IMT) alongside traditional physiotherapy. Both groups will undergo a structured program that includes chest physiotherapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation, conducted five times a week for one month. The aim is to assess whether the addition of IMT enhances recovery and functional performance compared to standard care alone.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are elderly patients with severe walking disabilities due to ICU-acquired weakness.

Not a fit: Patients with lower limb amputations or orthopedic/spinal disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve walking ability and overall functional performance in elderly patients recovering from ICU-acquired weakness.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated that interventions like physiotherapy and neuromuscular stimulation can be beneficial, but the specific combination of IMT and traditional therapy in this context is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* sufferers with intensive care unit acquired weakness
* Older sufferers patients with severe walking disability detected by Modified Functional Ambulation Category test,

Exclusion Criteria:

* lower limb amputations
* orthopedic or spinal disc disorders

Where this trial is running

Giza

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.