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Neurologic DisorderNCT07524790

The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Haemodynamic Responses in a Neurological Intensive Care

A study testing Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises and Passive Range of Motion Exercises in people with Neurologic Disorder, run by Abant Izzet Baysal University.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Official record
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Trial summary

Although there are studies examining the effect of actively performed PNF exercises on haemodynamic responses in intensive care patients and healthy individuals, there are no studies investigating their effect on circulation and haemodynamic responses in unconscious patients. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Neurologic Disorder
What is being tested?
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises and Passive Range of Motion Exercises
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
24 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
15 May 2026to 15 May 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients being monitored in the neurology intensive care unit
  • Aged 18 years or over
  • Haemodynamically stable
  • No orthopaedic condition preventing the performance of passive joint movements in the upper and lower limbs
  • A signed informed consent form from a patient's next of relative for participation in the study

Who cannot join

  • Presence of haemodynamic instability
  • Fractures, contractures or serious orthopaedic conditions in the upper or lower limbs that restrict movement
  • Diagnosis or suspicion of deep vein thrombosis
  • Severe peripheral arterial disease
  • Serious cardiac arrhythmia that may prevent exercise

About this study

Official title: The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on the Ankle-Brachial Index and Haemodynamic Responses in Patients in a Neurological Intensive Care Unit: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Although there are studies examining the effect of actively performed PNF exercises on haemodynamic responses in intensive care patients and healthy individuals, there are no studies investigating their effect on circulation and haemodynamic responses in unconscious patients. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the acute effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercises on peripheral circulation and haemodynamic responses in patients admitted to a neurological intensive care unit.

Hypotheses:

Read more

H1-1: Passively administered PNF exercises have beneficial effects on peripheral circulation.

H2-1: Passively administered PNF exercises have beneficial effects on haemodynamic responses.

Being tested
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises, Passive Range of Motion Exercises
Keywords
Proprioceptive Neuromusculer Facilitation, Neurological Intensive Care, Haemodynamic Responses
Medical subject headings
Nervous System Diseases

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation ExercisesOther

    Also called PNF

    The following PNF patterns will be applied to the upper extremity:

    • flexion - abduction - external rotation → extension - adduction - internal rotation
    • extension - abduction - internal rotation → flexion - adduction - external rotation

    The following PNF patterns will be applied to the lower extremities:

    • flexion - adduction - external rotation (with the knee extended) → extension - abduction - internal rotation
    • extension - adduction - external rotation (with the knee extended) → flexion - abduction - internal rotation All exercises will be performed passively by the physiotherapist. Each movement will be performed in sets of 10-12 repetitions, with a 30-second rest period between sets.
  • Passive Range of Motion ExercisesOther

    Also called PROM

    Exercises for the upper extremities:

    • shoulder flexion - extension
    • shoulder abduction - adduction
    • shoulder internal - external rotation
    • elbow flexion - extension
    • wrist flexion - extension
    • finger flexion - extension

    Exercises for the lower extremities:

    • hip flexion - extension
    • hip abduction - adduction
    • hip internal - external rotation
    • knee flexion - extension
    • ankle dorsiflexion - plantar flexion All exercises will be performed passively by the physiotherapist. Each movement will be performed in sets of 10-12 repetitions, with a 30-second rest period between sets.
Study groups in NCT07524790
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PNF GroupExperimentalPatients in the PNF group will undergo proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercises. The exercises will be performed with patients in the supine position and the head elevated by 30°.
Receives: Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises
Control GroupSham comparatorPatients in the control group will undergo passive range of motion (PROM) exercises in the same position.
Receives: Other: Passive Range of Motion Exercises

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Ankle-Brachial İndex

    Systolic blood pressure will be measured at the brachial artery (upper limb) and the posterior tibial or dorsalis pedis artery (lower limb) using a Hadesco ES-101EX Doppler device, with patients in a supine resting position. The cuff will be placed at mid-arm and above the malleolus. It will be inflated until the pulse disappears and deflated slowly; the first reappearance of the pulse will be recorded as systolic pressure.

    Measurements will be taken in order: same-side arm, same-side leg, opposite leg, and opposite arm. The ankle-brachial index will be calculated as the ratio of the highest lower limb systolic pressure to the highest upper limb systolic pressure.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

  2. Heart Rate

    Heart rate will be recorded as beats per minute and breaths per minute, respectively, based on data obtained from the patient monitor. Measurement will be taken whilst patients are in the supine position and at rest.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

  3. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure

    Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements will be taken from the patient's upper extremity using an appropriately sized cuff and recorded in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Measurement will be taken whilst patients are in the supine position and at rest.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

  4. Respiratory rate

    respiratory rate will be recorded as beats per minute and breaths per minute, respectively, based on data obtained from the patient monitor. Measurement will be taken whilst patients are in the supine position and at rest.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

  5. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂)

    Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) will be measured using a pulse oximeter. Measurement will be taken whilst patients are in the supine position and at rest.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Rate Pressure Product

    Rate Pressure Product is calculated by dividing the product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure by 1,000

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

  2. Quadriceps circumference measurement

    Measurements will be taken whilst patients are in the supine position or, where appropriate, in a seated position. During the measurement, a non-elastic tape measure will be used to measure the circumference at the widest part of the thigh. The tape measure will be placed parallel to the thigh circumference, and the measurement result will be recorded in centimetres (cm).

    To enhance the reliability of the measurement, two separate measurements will be taken for each patient, and the average of the obtained values will be used in the analyses.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

  3. Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score

    Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score comprises a total of 10 parameters: age, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, body temperature, Glasgow Coma Scale, urine output, mechanical ventilation status, length of stay in intensive care, and the presence of elective surgery. Each parameter is assessed according to specific score ranges, and the total score indicates the severity of the illness. Higher scores indicate a higher risk of mortality.

    Measured: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Apr 2026
  2. Study start15 May 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion15 May 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
two groups with a conventional therapy control group.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
24 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07524790
Sponsor's protocol ID
AIBU-FTR-BS-002
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
3 Apr 2026
Last updated
13 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises and Passive Range of Motion Exercises in people with Neurologic Disorder, run by Abant Izzet Baysal University.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Ankle-Brachial İndex (time frame: Baseline and five or ten minutes after exercise). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2026.

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