Rehabilitation program for elderly patients after heart surgery

Impact of Interactive Physical Therapy for Functional Capacity, Fear of Falls, Motivation and Quality of Life After Open Heart Surgery Due to Ischemic Heart Disease and Frailty in the Second Stage of Rehabilitation.

Not applicable Interventional Lithuanian University of Health Sciences · NCT06385041

This study tests a new rehabilitation program using interactive physical therapy tools to see if it helps older patients recover better and feel more confident after heart surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorLithuanian University of Health Sciences Academic / other
Locations1 site (Kaunas)
Trial IDNCT06385041 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of interactive physical therapy tools aimed at improving functional capacity, reducing fear of falls, enhancing motivation, and increasing quality of life in elderly patients recovering from open heart surgery due to ischemic heart disease and frailty. Participants, aged 65 and older with frailty syndrome, will undergo a 20-day rehabilitation program where they will be divided into control and intervention groups. Assessments will be conducted before and after the rehabilitation period to measure outcomes related to their recovery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are elderly patients aged 65 and older who have undergone open heart surgery and exhibit signs of frailty.

Not a fit: Patients with exercise-limiting comorbidities or severe cognitive and physical impairments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the recovery and quality of life for elderly patients after heart surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown positive outcomes with rehabilitation programs for frail elderly patients, suggesting that this approach may be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient's agreement to participate in the study,
* Age 65 years and older,
* Patients admitted to CR after open heart surgery,
* Patients with frailty (Edmonton frailty scale ≥4)
* 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) ≥150 meters and walking without mobility aid.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient's disagreement to participate in the study
* Exercise-limiting comorbidities (primarily orthopedic and neurological conditions that would exclude individuals from participating in cardiac rehabilitation according to study protocol), cognitive, vision, linguistic deficits, chronic heart failure Class IV, anemia, wound healing disturbance or other various acute conditions that may limit active participation in physical therapy programs.

Where this trial is running

Kaunas

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 Frailty Syndromeevaluate the impact of physical therapy tools for functional capacity, fear of falls, motivation, quality of life after open heart surgery and frailty
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.