Background:

Regular physical activity is an evidence-based adjuvant therapy of chronic heart failure or chronic lung diseases. Structured exercise training is safe, increases exercise capacity and quality of life, relieves symptoms and reduces hospitalization rates. Even a trend towards reduction of mortality has been identified. However, dyspnea and fatigue, typical symptoms of heart or lung failure, force patients to physical inactivity which fatally aggravates deconditioning and exercise intolerance, leading to an increased risk of hospitalization and a loss of independence and quality of life. To break through this vicious circle physical activity must be restored, since exercise intolerance can be successfully improved by physical training.

Purpose:

This study will address the challenging task of remobilizing patients with advanced chronic lung or heart failure in a functional New York Heart Association class III-IV by using an externally physically-supported exosuit movement therapy. This soft, wearable robot (fig. 1) assists mobilization according to individual needs by activating neuromuscular feedback systems, promoting physical activity and preventing early physical exhaustion. The investigators hypotheses that an exosuit-supported training increases exercise capacity and quality of life in a greater degree than non-supported training.

Methods:

The study will consist of two parts investigating i) the feasibility, tolerance and safety (n= 30) and ii) the efficacy of an exosuit device-supported training (n=30). In i) patients will perform a walking test and a set of everyday life skills or participate in a standardized rehabilitation sports program. In ii) patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio for an exosuit-supported or non-supported exercise training protocol, training 3 units per week for 8 weeks. Assessment of outcome will be performed by various functional, mobility and endurance tests, questionnaires and clinical parameters. Furthermore, the transfer of regained motor and balance skills to everyday life will be analyzed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• >17 years old
• written informed consent
• chronic end-stage systolic heart failure without ventricular assist device, LVEF ≤ 45% OR chronic advanced pulmonary diseases
• clinically stable for at least 6 weeks
• ability to mobilize into standing and walking of at least 10 meters with or without rollator
• ability to get up from a chair without rotating the upper body >45° sagittally

Exclusion Criteria:

• addictions or other illnesses that impact the ability to understand the nature, scope and consequences of the trial
• lack of knowledge of German to fully understand study information
• pregnancy, pre-menopausal women
• contraindications of cardiopulmonary exercising
• BMI > 35 kg/m², waist size > 135 cm.
• Height <150 cm, >195 cm
• Weight<45 kg, >110 kg
• Functional Reach Test <15,24 cm
• Flexion contracture in the knee/hip joint >10°
• Chronic colonization or active infection with multi-resistant pathogens