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EffectiVenEss of a Rehabilitation Treatment With Nordic Walking in obEse or oveRweight Patients

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabete Type 2
Overweight and Obesity
Interventions
Other: Nordic Walking (NW)
Other: Cardiological Counselling (CC)
Other: Standard Rehabilitation (SR)
Registration Number
NCT05987410
Lead Sponsor
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus
Brief Summary

Nordic Walking (NW) is a biomechanically correct walking technique that originated in Finland in the 1930s as an off-season training method for cross-country skiers. In the NW, the use of special sticks is combined with "conventional" walking: this involves a greater caloric expenditure, with an energy consumption higher by 20-30% compared to walking without sticks, and also toning of the upper part of the body, in particular triceps, shoulders and back, and the involvement of about 90% of the body's muscles, while maintaining a reduced load on ligaments and joints (Baek \& Ha, 2021). The NW acts simultaneously and effectively on different components of fitness: coordination, endurance, strength, and mobility. It does not require sudden accelerations and is based on a technique that is easy to learn (with the help of an instructor), especially as regards maintaining correct posture. Finally, in addition to the cardiovascular benefits, NW has also been shown to effectively reduce the risk of falls in the elderly. The study is a single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT), with a three-parallel-arm design, open-label. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy (in terms of cardiovascular performance), safety, and adherence (in terms of dropout rate) to the exercise prescription after 6 and 12 months follow-up of a 3-month NW intervention compared with standard rehabilitation training (SR, 3 months) in obese/overweight diabetic patients with cardiovascular (CV) complications. The study will enroll in parallel a control group that can access only generic cardiological counseling with a prescription for unsupervised home exercise.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
105
Inclusion Criteria
  • overweight [Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m2] or obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) adult patients with diabetes mellitus and with a recent cardiovascular event and/or coronary revascularization in the previous three months
Exclusion Criteria
  • inability to walk independently and constantly;
  • acute joint or spine pathologies that make movement impossible;
  • the presence of dementia as approved by consultation of the patient's medical record and/or administration of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test ≤ 15.5 (Nasreddine et al., 2005);
  • chemotherapy 6 months before surgery;
  • advanced renal failure;
  • acute cardiovascular event < 3 months (unstable angina, AMI with FE <40%, arrhythmias, valvular disease, intracerebral/subdural haemorrhage, uncontrolled AI);
  • home oxygen therapy and Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) [excluding Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)].

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Nordic Walking (NW)Nordic Walking (NW)Nordic walking is a form of physical activity that originated in Finland and has gained popularity worldwide. It involves walking with the use of specially designed poles that resemble ski poles. This activity engages both the upper and lower body, making it a full-body workout. In summary, Nordic walking offers several benefits for cardiovascular individuals with Type II diabetes and those who are obese or overweight. These benefits include improved heart and lung function, better blood glucose control, weight management, low joint impact, muscle strengthening, improved balance and posture, and social engagement. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program to ensure it is safe and suitable for individual health conditions and goals. Regular monitoring and adjustments by healthcare professionals can help optimize the benefits and ensure ongoing progress.
Control Group (CG)Cardiological Counselling (CC)Cardiological counseling for cardiovascular individuals with Type II diabetes and obesity/overweight often includes recommendations for unsupervised aerobic physical activity. This type of counseling typically involves a cardiologist providing guidelines and recommendations for safe and effective exercise routines. In summary, it involves an initial assessment to determine exercise capacity and precautions. The cardiologist prescribes specific guidelines for unsupervised aerobic physical activity, including the type, frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise sessions. Safety considerations are provided. The benefits of unsupervised aerobic physical activity include improved cardiovascular health, enhanced blood glucose control, weight management, psychological well-being, and increased energy and stamina.
Standard Rehabilitation (SR)Standard Rehabilitation (SR)A standard rehabilitation program for cardiovascular individuals with Type II diabetes and obesity/overweight typically involves a combination of cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and education on lifestyle modifications. The program is prescribed by a cardiologist and supervised by physiotherapists or exercise specialists. It includes an initial assessment to determine exercise parameters, cardiovascular exercise to improve heart function and manage blood glucose levels, strength training to increase muscle mass and aid in weight management, education on nutrition and lifestyle modifications, and progress tracking and monitoring to optimize outcomes. These programs provide benefits such as improved cardiovascular fitness, better blood glucose control, weight management, enhanced muscle strength, and overall well-being.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT) distance in metersAn average of 6 months

Assess distance in meters, determined by the Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT) in the Nordic Walking (NW) group compared to the Standard Rehabilitation (SR) and Control (CG) Groups at baseline (T0), the end of the rehabilitation treatment (T1), and after 3 months of observation (T2)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
AnxietyAn average of 6 months

To verify the effectiveness of the interventions in reducing the levels of anxiety as detected by The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) in the Nordic Walking (NW) group compared to the Standard Rehabilitation (SR) and Control (CG) Groups at baseline (T0), the end of the rehabilitation treatment (T1), and after 3 months of observation (T2). The following cut-offs correlate with level of anxiety severity: Score 0-4: Minimal Anxiety; Score 5-9: Mild Anxiety; Score 10-14: Moderate Anxiety; Score greater than 15: Severe Anxiety (Spitzer et al., 2006).

AdherenceThrough intervention completion, an average of 3 months

Monitoring of adherence to the intervention considering the number of sessions of the treatment \[Nordic Walking (NW); Standard Rehabilitation (SR) or Control Group (CG) intervention\] attended during the 3 months.

DepressionAn average of 6 months

To verify the effectiveness of the interventions in reducing the levels of depression as detected by The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in the Nordic Walking (NW) group compared to the Standard Rehabilitation (SR) and Control (CG) Groups at baseline (T0), the end of the rehabilitation treatment (T1), and after 3 months of observation (T2). Regarding severity, PHQ-9 comprises five categories, where a cut-off point of 0-4 indicates no depressive symptoms, 5-9 mild depressive symptoms, 10-14 moderate depressive symptoms, 15-19 moderately-severe depressive symptoms, and 20-27 severe depressive symptoms (Kroenke and Spitzer, 2002).

The Short Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12)An average of 12 months

To verify the effectiveness of the interventions in improving the levels of Quality of Life detected thanks to The Short Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12) (Ware et al., 2000) in the Nordic Walking (NW) group compared to the Standard Rehabilitation (SR) and Control (CG) Groups at baseline (T0), the end of the rehabilitation treatment (T1), after 3 months of observation (T2), 12 months (T3).

Variation in Body Mass Index (BMI)An average of 12 months

To verify the effectiveness of the interventions in improving the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the Nordic Walking (NW) group compared to the Standard Rehabilitation (SR) and Control (CG) Groups at baseline (T0), the end of the rehabilitation treatment (T1), after 3 months of observation (T2), 12 months (T3).

An improvement of at least 10% in BMI is considered significant.

Peak Oxygen Uptake (VO2)An average of 6 months

Assess increasing in Peak Oxygen Uptake (VO2) in the Nordic Walking (NW) group compared to the Standard Rehabilitation (SR) and Control (CG) Groups group at baseline (T0), the end of the rehabilitation treatment (T1), and after 3 months of observation (T2)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi

🇮🇹

Milan, Italy

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