An 8 Week Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Home Exercise Therapy in Early Cirrhosis
An 8 Week Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Home Exercise Therapy in Early Cirrhosis
Individuals with Cirrhosis have been shown to have a low aerobic capacity. While supervised exercise training has been shown to be an effective intervention to remedy this, there is currently no data on home based exercise interventions in this population. This study will evaluate the effects of a home based exercise program on the aerobic capacity of enrolled early stage liver cirrhosis patients, as well as changes in quality of life, thigh muscle thickness, and thigh muscle oxygen consumption.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age >18 and less than or equal to 70 years Liver Cirrhosis Child Pugh Class A or B If required, primary or secondary Variceal prophylaxis in place
Exclusion Criteria:
- Post-liver transplantation Hepatocellular carcinoma beyond transplant criteria Active non-hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy Significant cardiac disease Hemoglobin (<80 g/L) Oxygen saturation at rest <95% Known myopathy Chronic renal failure on dialysis Physical impairment making it impossible to ride an exercise bike or treadmill Orthopedic abnormality preventing exercise training HIV infection Patient unwilling to consent to study Child Pugh class C