Pre-operative Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training in Total Joint Surgery

May 13, 2026 updated by: University of Florida

Preoperative Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training and Pulmonary Complications After Surgery

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate effects of respiratory strengthening exercises on breathing function, in people who have orthopedic surgery. It is known that breathing function decreases for a few days after surgery. in In this study, we want to see if exercising before surgery strengthens the breathing muscles and improves recovery after surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Preoperative inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been shown to reduce post operative complications (PPC's) following prolonged cardiac surgeries, but its potential benefits have not been investigated in shorter surgeries with expected brief post-operative hospitalizations. We intend to address this unmet need by investigating preoperative IMT, an evidence-based rehab strategy to optimize lung function, prior to total joint arthroplasty surgery. The fundamental hypothesis guiding this proposal is that preoperative IMT will attenuate post-operative declines in breathing function and offset PPCs. To test this hypothesis, we will conduct a single center, randomized, prospective pilot study. Adults scheduled for total joint arthroplasty or lower extremity orthopedic surgery will be randomized to either complete daily IMT in advance of surgery (dIMT), a single acute IMT session immediately before surgery (aIMT), or usual surgical standard of care (SOC). Inspiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function will be evaluated upon enrollment ~4 weeks in advance of surgery and in pre-operative holding, and post-operative declines will be investigated through the first 24 hours (Aim 1). Further, we will investigate the effect of training assignment on post-operative clinical outcomes (Aim 2).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
36

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 or older
  • History of current or previous tobacco use (including vaping containing nicotine products)
  • One or more risk factors for post operative pulmonary complications including history of current or previous tobacco use, a clinically diagnosed lung disease, shortness of breath with minimal exertion, FEV1 or FVC less than 80% than predicted or respiratory muscles strength below lower limit of normal for age and sex.
  • History of smoking related lung disease
  • Projected surgical time > 30 minutes
  • Ability to follow instructions to complete IMT exercises
  • Ability to communicate adverse effects such as pain or fatigue or the need for assistance

Exclusion Criteria:

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification of 4 or greater .
  • Recent history of acute pneumonia or lower respiratory infection in the previous two weeks requiring acute corticosteroid or antibiotic medication,
  • Preoperative dependence on continuous supplemental oxygen dependence.
  • Preoperative dependence on positive pressure breathing support while awake and upright (night time CPAP permitted),
  • Diagnosis of a neurologic condition (i.e. MS, ALS, Parkinson's, stroke),
  • Participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program
  • Severe obstructive pulmonary disease (Classification of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 3 or higher, indicating FEV1<50% predicted.
  • Patients with an infectious disease requiring isolation (i.e. COVID-19).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Daily IMT (dIMT)
IMT (inspiratory muscle training) is a treatment strategy aimed to strengthen the muscles of inspiration, the diaphragm and external intercostals, by increasing their force-generating capacity. Participants in the dIMT (daily IMT) will complete daily inspiratory training exercises 2-4 weeks prior to surgery. A pressure threshold training device containing an adjustable-tension spring to provide resistance during inspiration will be used. Subjects will complete 5 sets of 5 maximal volume and speed breaths daily at a pressure 70% of MIP and will rest 1 minute between sets. They will be asked to keep a log to track their sessions to evaluate compliance with the exercise regimen.
Behavioral: Daily Inspiratory Muscle Training (dIMT)
Daily IMT training sessions for 2-4 weeks prior to surgery
Active Comparator: Acute IMT (aIMT)
Patients in the aIMT (acute IMT) experimental group will complete a single session of IMT guided by a physical therapist within 30 minutes of anesthesia induction in addition to standard of care. The adjustable pressure threshold training device to provide resistance during inspiration will be used. Subjects will complete 5 sets of 5 maximal volume and speed breaths, and rest 1 minute between sets. The training intensity will be set at 70% of MIP.
Behavioral: Acute Inspiratory Muscle Training (aIMT)
A single session of IMT provided within 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction.
Active Comparator: Standard of Care (SOC)
The SOC group will receive the usual surgical standard of care only.
Other: Standard of Care (SOC)
Standard of care only pre and post-operatively.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)
Time Frame: 24-hours post-op.
Measure of strength of inspiratory muscles.
24-hours post-op.
Forced vital capacity (FVC)
Time Frame: 24-hours postoperative changes
The volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled after a full inhalation.
24-hours postoperative changes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Post operative pulmonary complications
Time Frame: 10 days Post-op
Incidence of post-operative pulmonary complications
10 days Post-op

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Florida

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Barbara Smith, PhD, University of Florida, College of Public Health and Health Professions - Gainesville

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 16, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 16, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 19, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB202102681
  • R21AG083667 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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