Impact of early balance training on recovering following coronary artery bypass grafting. A randomized trial

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the effect of early balance training combined with traditional Phase I cardiac rehabilitation (based on circulatory, respiratory and progressive aerobic exercises) compared to Phase I cardiac rehabilitation alone, on balance, functional capacity, quality of life, length of hospital stay and adverse events in patients post coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Cardiothoracic surgery departments from the Cairo University Hospitals.

Participants:

Adults (≥55 years) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft were randomly allocated to either an early balance training plus Phase I cardiac rehabilitation group or a Phase I cardiac rehabilitation alone group. Both groups commenced within 48 hours postoperatively and performed 30 minutes of moderate-intensity Phase I cardiac rehabilitation, thrice daily for 7 days. The cardiac rehabilitation Balance group performed an additional 5 minutes of balance training each session.

Main measures:

Balance (Berg Balance Scale), functional capacity (5-Repetition-Sit-to-Stand test), quality of life (Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire), length of hospital stay (number of days hospitalized) and adverse events were evaluated.

Results:

Sixty coronary artery bypass graft patients completed the study. When compared to cardiac rehabilitation Alone group, the cardiac rehabilitation balance group significantly improved balance (39.77 ± 4.73 vs 34.03 ± 4.94, respectively, P < .001) functional capacity (11.93 ± 1.70 vs 15.97 ± 2.01, respectively, P < .001), quality of life (71.87 ± 3.21 vs 66.17 ± 2.94, respectively, P < .001) and hospital length stay (11.47 ± 1.22 vs 14.93 ± 1.36, respectively, P < .01). Additionally, both groups showed significant improvements in balance, functional capacity and quality of life. No adverse events were registered in any of the groups.

Conclusions:

Phase I cardiac rehabilitation plus early balance training improves balance, functional capacity, quality of life, and decreases length of hospital stay beyond that of Phase I cardiac rehabilitation alone, without an increase in adverse events.

Institutional Research Committee:

No: P.T.REC/012/004372

Registration:

clinicaltrails.gov NCT06490458).