Feasibility of interval exercise in bronchiectasis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of minimal-equipment high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) interventions in bronchiectasis patients
IRAS ID
253323
Contact name
Danny Taylor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research to date suggests that encouraging increased physical activity and exercise engagement may be an effective way to improve symptoms, fitness, quality of life, and reduce time spent in hospital for bronchiectasis sufferers. However, relatively few patients continue to engage with exercise programs that are of benefit to their health and symptoms. Barriers to exercise are thought to include time constraints and the use of specialist equipment (e.g. cycle ergometers) which may not be available or accessible in the home (or hospital) setting. With these points in mind, there is growing interest in brief, relatively intense, interval exercise interventions for chronic lung disease sufferers as they require minimal equipment and may more easily translate back into the home setting. Of the types of approach this might include, both stair-based and walk-based interval exercise appear to be relatively safe, practical, and time-efficient ways to improve physical fitness and quality of life in previously untrained and clinical populations. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of their use by chronic lung disease patients, particularly those with bronchiectasis, is yet to be properly examined. We therefore want to recruit 10 bronchiectasis patients to explore the feasibility and application of minimal-equipment interval exercise interventions in this population. More specifically, we would like to observe patients’ acute physical and perceptual responses to four different step and walk-based protocols which have been established for other clinical populations. We also wish to explore whether these protocols are engaged with, and enjoyed, during a six week unsupervised exercise intervention (in the home), as well as the effects of this six week unsupervised exercise period on physical fitness. This project will hopefully make a valuable contribution to the limited research to have examined the real-world application and impact of interval-type exercise interventions on exercise behaviour, health, and symptoms in bronchiectasis sufferers.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0419
Date of REC Opinion
4 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion