Continuous Versus High Intensity Interval Exercise in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Conditions

• COPD

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

N/A - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE) — OTHER
  Patients will perform a moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE) protocol on a cycle ergometer that includes 20 minutes of cycling at 50%WRpeak.
• High-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIE) — OTHER
  Patients will perform a high-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIE) protocol on a cycle ergometer that consists of 12 sets of 60 seconds work at 85% WRpeak followed by 60 seconds of rest.

Study Details

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by exercise intolerance, which is a prognostic factor of disease severity and mortality and is usually attributed to ventilatory limitations. Emerging evidence indicates that cerebral oxygenation may also be an important contributor, being impaired both at rest and during exercise in COPD patients. Furthermore, abnormal systemic hemodynamic responses and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction have been observed, which may further impair cerebral oxygenation. The type of exercise training applied in pulmonary rehabilitation (continuous versus interval) appears to influence these mechanisms differently, yet evidence on their impact on cerebral oxygenation in COPD remains scarce. The aim of this study is to compare, for the first time, the acute changes in cerebral oxygenation, CPET parameters, systemic hemodynamic responses, and autonomic responses in patients with COPD who undergo a high-intensity interval aerobic exercise (HIIE) protocol versus a moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE) protocol. These findings will have important clinical implications, as they may guide the choice of the most appropriate exercise modality in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Key Dates

First listed

Jul 16, 2026

Start date

Jun 30, 2026

Status verified

Jul 2026

Primary completion

Jun 30, 2027

Completion

Jul 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment

12 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

• Experimental: COPD Group A
  This group will perform moderate intensity continuous exercise in the 3rd visit and high intensity interval exercise in the 4th visit.
• Experimental: COPD Group B
  This group will perform high intensity interval exercise in the 3rd visit and moderate intensity continuous exercise in the 4th visit.

Primary Outcome Measure

Differences between MICE and HIIE protocol in brain HbO2 (changes from the baseline) during rest [ Time Frame: The MICE and HIIE protocols will be conducted within 2 weeks from enrollment and will be separated by one week. ]

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