CClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07185659COPDUpdated Sep 22, 2025

The Effect of Walking Exercise in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

An interventional study of Elastic band and Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), sponsored by Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation. Recruiting at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-22.

Sponsored by Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
68
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
40 Years to 100 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

"Patients were divided into two groups: the experimental group (E group) and the control group (C group). The E group received standard care, walking exercise, and elastic band exercise, and wore a smart bracelet to record walking steps and sleep for three months. During the first month, participants performed walking exercise for 100 minutes per week and used a red elastic band for resistance training. In the second month, walking exercise increased to 150 minutes per week with a green elastic band. In the third month, walking exercise increased to 150-300 minutes per week with a blue elastic band. The C group wore the smart bracelet to record walking steps and sleep for three months. Each group included 34 participants. The study was conducted from September 9, 2021, to December 31, 2025. Exclusion criteria included panic disorder, cognitive impairment, current cancer treatment, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months, participation in high-intensity rehabilitation exercise, and walking dysfunction. Participants were required to follow the study protocol.

  • Assessments**:
  • Anxiety and Depression**:Measured using the Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
  • Dyspnea**:Measured using the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale.
  • Life and Sleep quality**:Measured using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Chinese Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI).
Read the detailed description

Patients will be divided into two groups: the experimental group (E group) and the control group (C group).

The E group will receive standard care, walking exercise, and elastic band exercise, and will wear a smart bracelet to record walking steps and sleep for three months. During the first month, participants will perform walking exercise for 100 minutes per week and use a red elastic band for resistance training. In the second month, walking exercise will increase to 150 minutes per week with a green elastic band. In the third month, walking exercise will increase to 150-300 minutes per week with a blue elastic band.

The C group will wear a smart bracelet to record walking steps and sleep for three months.

Each group will enroll 34 participants. The study period is from September 9, 2021, to December 31, 2025. Participants with contraindications such as panic disorder, cognitive impairment, ongoing cancer treatment, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months, participation in high-intensity rehabilitation exercise, or walking dysfunction will be excluded at enrollment based on the exclusion criteria. Participants are required to follow the study protocol.

02

Conditions studied

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Keywords

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
40 Years to 100 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Participants were recruited according to the following criteria.

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Inpatients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria.
  • Age ≥ 40 years.
  • Post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC ratio \< 70%.
  • History of smoking.
  • Ability to perform walking exercises.
  • Willingness of the patient or a family member to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Panic disorder.
  • Presence of delirium with inability to cooperate.
  • Currently receiving cancer treatment.
  • Angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within the past 3 months.
  • Currently undergoing high-intensity rehabilitation exercises.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
68 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    walking exercise and resistance exercise with elastic band

    From weeks 1 to 12, participants' daily walking steps were monitored using a wearable device (smart bracelet). Participants performed walking exercises 5 days per week, twice daily (morning and evening sessions). In weeks 1-4, the prescribed dose was 100 minutes per week (10 minutes per session); in weeks 5-8, 150 minutes per week (15 minutes per session); and in weeks 9-12, 150 to 300 minutes per week (20 to 30 minutes per session). Leg resistance extension exercises were also performed with progressively stronger elastic bands: red (weeks 1-4), green (weeks 5-8), and blue (weeks 9-12). During weeks 1-2 and 5-6, exercises were performed 3 times per week with 2 sets per session, which increased to 3 sets per session during weeks 3-4, 7-8, and 11-12.

    Device: Elastic band · Device: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device · Behavioral: Walking

  • Placebo comparator
    routine nursing care and health education

    Participants received routine nursing care and health education. From weeks 1 to 12, their daily walking steps were monitored using a wearable device (smart bracelet)

    Device: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device

Interventions

  • DeviceElastic band

    Thera-Band® elastic band exercise protocol: First stage (weeks 1-4): Participants performed leg resistance stretching exercises with a red elastic band. In weeks 1-2, exercises were performed 3 times per week, with 2 sets per session; in weeks 3-4, 3 times per week, with 3 sets per session. Second stage (weeks 5-8): Participants performed leg resistance stretching exercises with a green elastic band. In weeks 5-6, exercises were performed 3 times per week, with 2 sets per session; in weeks 7-8, 3 times per week, with 3 sets per session. Third stage (weeks 9-12): Participants performed leg resistance stretching exercises with a blue elastic band. In weeks 9-10, exercises were performed 3 times per week, with 2 sets per session; in weeks 11-12, 3 times per week, with 3 sets per session.

  • DeviceXiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device

    The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device has been certified by the National Communications Commission (Certification No. CCAG19LP0080T6). From weeks 1 to 12, participants' daily walking steps were monitored using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device.

  • BehavioralWalking

    Walking exercise plan

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    HADS was used to assess differences between groups and over time. The questionnaire consists of 14 items: 7 for anxiety and 7 for depression. Scores range from 0 to 21 for each subscale, with higher scores indicating greater levels of anxiety and depression.

    Time frame: Patients were assessed before discharge as the baseline, and reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  2. modified Medical Research Council (mMRC)

    The mMRC scale was used to assess differences in dyspnea severity between groups over time. The mMRC is a five-point scale ranging from 0 (least severe) to 4 (most severe), with higher scores indicating greater dyspnea severity.

    Time frame: Patients were assessed before discharge as the baseline, and reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  3. COPD Assessment Test (CAT)

    The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) was used to assess differences between groups over time. The CAT consists of 8 items scored from 0 to 5, yielding a total score of 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating a greater impact of COPD on quality of life.

    Time frame: Patients were assessed before discharge as the baseline, and reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  4. Chinese Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI)

    CPSQI was used to assess differences between groups over time. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. A score greater than 5 denotes poor sleep quality.

    Time frame: Patients were assessed before discharge as the baseline, and reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  5. Six-Minute Walk Test ( 6MWT )

    The six-minute walk test (6MWT) was used to assess differences between groups and over time. It is an important measure of patients' functional exercise capacity.

    Time frame: Patients were assessed before discharge as the baseline, and reassessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Daily walking activity:(1)total steps

    The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device will be used to measure daily walking activity, including total steps. Data will be collected to compare differences between two groups over time. By analyzing changes in walking activity over a 12-week period, the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  2. Daily walking activity:(2)total walking distance

    The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device will be used to measure daily walking activity, including total walking distance. Data will be collected to compare differences between two groups over time. By analyzing changes in walking activity over a 12-week period, the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention will be evaluated.

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  3. Sleep status : (1)daily total sleep duration

    Daily total sleep duration (in hours) was measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device. The data were collected to evaluate between-group differences and temporal changes. The effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention was investigated by comparing differences in sleep status over 12 weeks.

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  4. Sleep status : (2)daily light sleep duration

    Daily light sleep duration (hours) was measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device. Data were collected to assess between-group differences and temporal changes. The effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention was evaluated by examining changes in sleep status over 12 weeks.

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  5. Sleep status : (3) Daily deep sleep duration

    Daily deep sleep duration (hours) was measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device. Data were collected to assess between-group differences and temporal changes. The effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention was evaluated by examining changes in sleep status over 12 weeks.

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  6. Sleep status : (4) the number of awakenings during sleep

    The number of awakenings during sleep was measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device. Data were collected to assess between-group differences and temporal changes. The effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention was evaluated by examining changes in sleep status over 12 weeks.

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

  7. Sleep status : (5) total wake time during sleep

    Total wake time during sleep was measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 wearable device. Data were collected to assess between-group differences and temporal changes. The effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention was evaluated by analyzing longitudinal changes in sleep status over 12 weeks."

    Time frame: Patients were monitored over a 12-week period, with formal assessments conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-discharge.

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital
    New Taipei City, Xindian Dist. 23142, Taiwan
    • Pei-Ching Hung, Hand nurse · Contact · linda8123@hotmail.com · 886-2-66289779
    • Pei-Ching Hung, Hand nurse · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Protecting participant privacy is the primary consideration, as sharing individual participant data (IPD) could expose sensitive information and create risks of re-identification, even after de-identification. Moreover, participants did not provide consent for data sharing, and obtaining re-consent would be difficult. Ensuring data security also requires substantial resources and technical safeguards that exceed our current infrastructure. In addition, compliance with complex legal and ethical regulations governing data sharing further complicates implementation. Finally, maintaining the quality and integrity of IPD prior to sharing demands additional effort and resources. Collectively, these factors inform our decision to prioritize participant protection and data security.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07185659
Lead sponsor
Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
Responsible party
Pei-Ching Hung (HEAD NURSE, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 22, 2025
Start date
Sep 9, 2021
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 22, 2025

Study contacts

Pei-Ching Hung, Head nurse
Contact
linda8123@hotmail.com
+886-2-66289779 ext. 8613
Pei-Ching Hung, Hand nurse
principal investigator · Taipei Tzuchi hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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