NCT07243769

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Core Exercise, Aerobic Exercise, and Combined Exercise in Patients Undergoing Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation.

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended after myocardial infarction (MI) or heart failure (HF), yet the added value of core muscle endurance training within CR remains uncertain. This randomized, three-arm trial will enroll 60 adults with stable MI or HF who are referred to Phase II CR. After consent and baseline testing, participants are allocated 1:1:1 to: (1) Pilates-based core endurance training, (2) standard aerobic CR (treadmill or cycle), or (3) combined aerobic plus core training. Supervised sessions occur twice weekly for eight weeks (\~60 minutes/session) with continuous safety monitoring. The primary aim is to evaluate feasibility and safety of core training in this population. The study also compares effects of the three programs on cardiorespiratory fitness and function (e.g., peak oxygen uptake, six-minute walk distance), core endurance, balance, symptoms, and health-related quality of life. Findings will clarify whether adding core training improves outcomes and inform clinical exercise prescription in CR.

Conditions

• Clinically Stable Myocardial Infarction or Heart Failure Patients
• Heart Failure
• Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Core exercise training	Two core sessions per week, 1 hour per session. Pilates-based core endurance training progressing in difficulty with emphasis on breathing and posture; exercises performed in sitting, supine, prone, and quadruped positions.
OTHER	conventional cardiac rehabilitation (aerobic training)	Two aerobic training sessions per week, 1 hour per session. Aerobic program targets 40-80% heart-rate reserve on a treadmill or cycle ergometer.
OTHER	combined training	One core training session and one aerobic training session per week, 1hr per session. Core program (Pilates-based) progresses in difficulty with emphasis on breathing and posture; aerobic program targets 40-80% heart-rate reserve on a treadmill or cycle ergometer.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2028-12-31
• Completion: 2029-12-31
• First posted: 2025-11-24
• Last updated: 2025-11-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan