"Pilot Study: Effects of Vibration on Postoperative Early Mobilization of Cardiac Surgery Patients"

The aim of this study is to determine whether vibrations on the sole of the foot accelerate mobilization after cardiac surgery. Preliminary studies show that the mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation in the event of changes in position, e.g. when getting up from the lying position, can be positively influenced by vibration treatments on the soles of the feet, if at the same time a small part of the body weight is shifted to the soles of the feet. In the early phase after the operation, you may feel dizzy when you get up, which creates uncertainty in the patient, which in turn delays further mobilization.The sole of the foot vibrations and various measurements of the cardiovascular regulation are carried out in this study.

This study is carried out by the clinical department for cardiac surgery together with the chair of physiology at the Medical University of Graz. Thirty patients will participate in this study. Through a random selection process, the patients are divided into three groups of 10 patients each and receive the following treatment in addition to standard clinical physiotherapy:

A: Intervention group I receives a unit of 10 minutes daily on the vibrating plate with an upright posture of 15 ° postoperatively from the 2nd to the 7th day B: Intervention group II is positioned postoperatively from day 2 to day 7 for 10 minutes at 15 degrees, but without vibration C: The control group only receives standard physiotherapy and no further treatments

Standard physiotherapy consists of the patient trying to stand up together with the physiotherapist from the intensive care bed or IMC bed. The participation in this clinical trial will take approximately 60 minutes per appointment. This consists of 20-25 minutes for attaching the electrodes, 15 minutes for the "sit-to-stand test" and 15-20 minutes for the survey (filling out the questionnaires). At the beginning of the study or before the operation (OP), questionnaires are used to determine whether you have an increased risk of falling and whether you are frail. These questionnaires will be carried out by trained employees together with you during the initial measurement, upon discharge and after about 3 months.

To measure the cardiovascular regulation during changes in position, a sit-up test is carried out. Values such as blood pressure and cardiac output (Task Force Monitor), muscle activity on the calf over the skin and vascular reaction in the calf over the skin, and blood flow to the brain are measured with a Ultrasound device included. All methods used are non-invasive (that is, only adhesive electrodes are used on the skin and no needles or syringes, there is no blood draw in this measurement) and not painful. The patient will be asked to participate in such a sit-up test (from supine/lying position to standing upright) at a total of 5 measuring dates. In total the patient will be given two blood pressure cuffs, one on the right upper arm, the second on the left middle finger. To measure the ECG and other cardiovascular values, 8 electrodes are attached to your upper body. In addition there are 3 adhesive electrodes on the calves for measuring the muscles. No additional blood tests are carried out as part of the tests. The results of your routine blood tests will be included in the study.