Effects of The Telerehabilitation-Based Exercise Program in Liver Transplant Patients

February 23, 2026 updated by: İlker DEMİR, Hasan Kalyoncu University

Effects of The Telerehabilitation-Based Exercise Program On Muscle Strength, Exercise Capacity and Fatigue Levels in Liver Transplant Patients

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of a telerehabilitation-based exercise program on muscle strength, exercise capacity, fatigue level, and cognitive status in adult liver transplant recipients. Liver transplantation is a major surgical procedure, and patients may experience reduced physical capacity, muscle weakness, and fatigue during recovery. Exercise-based rehabilitation may help improve these outcomes, but access to in-person rehabilitation programs may be limited after discharge.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving routine post-transplant care or an intervention group participating in a supervised telerehabilitation exercise program. The intervention consists of a 12-week program conducted twice weekly via video communication with a physiotherapist. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the program.

The study seeks to determine whether a structured, remotely supervised exercise program can improve functional recovery and reduce fatigue in liver transplant patients, potentially offering an accessible rehabilitation option after hospital discharge.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Liver transplantation is a complex surgical procedure that requires a structured recovery process extending from the pre-transplant period through hospitalization and post-discharge phases. After transplantation, patients frequently experience reduced physical capacity, decreased muscle strength, fatigue, and functional limitations that may negatively affect quality of life and recovery. Early and structured rehabilitation interventions are therefore considered important components of post-transplant care.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

140

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye), 4400
        • Inonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult liver transplant recipients aged 18 years or older
  • Medically stable and cleared for participation in an exercise program
  • Able to communicate and cooperate with the researcher
  • Literate and able to understand instructions
  • No orthopedic or neurological condition that would limit exercise participation
  • Approximately one month post-discharge following liver transplantation
  • Willing to participate and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of medical conditions that contraindicate exercise participation
  • Severe cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders that could interfere with the exercise program
  • Cognitive impairment preventing understanding of instructions or participation in assessments
  • Postoperative complications requiring activity restriction
  • Participation in another structured exercise or rehabilitation program during the study period
  • Refusal or inability to provide informed consent

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Telerehabilitation Exercise Group
Participants assigned to this arm received a structured telerehabilitation-based exercise program in addition to routine post-transplant care. The program was conducted for 12 weeks, twice weekly, via real-time video communication with a physiotherapist. Sessions included warm-up exercises, posture and breathing exercises, isometric strengthening exercises, functional movements such as sit-to-stand, walking training, and cool-down stretching. Exercise intensity was maintained at a moderate level and progressed gradually throughout the program.
Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Exercise Group
Participants in this group received a structured telerehabilitation-based exercise program delivered under real-time supervision by a physiotherapist. The intervention lasted 12 weeks and was conducted twice weekly via video communication. Each session lasted approximately 30-45 minutes and included warm-up exercises, posture and breathing exercises, isometric strengthening exercises for upper and lower extremities, functional exercises such as sit-to-stand, and walking training, followed by cool-down and stretching. Exercise intensity was maintained at a moderate level based on perceived exertion, and progression was applied throughout the program by increasing repetitions and duration to ensure adaptation and safety. Participants were initially instructed face-to-face before discharge and then continued the program remotely after discharge.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants assigned to this arm continued their routine daily activities and received standard post-transplant care without participating in a structured or supervised exercise or rehabilitation program during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and end of the 12-week intervention period
Change in functional exercise capacity measured by the distance (meters) walked during the 6-minute walk test.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and end of the 12-week intervention period
Fatigue Severity Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and end of the 12-week intervention period
Change in fatigue severity measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Total scores range from 9 to 63, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and end of the 12-week intervention period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Time Frame: Baseline and end of 12 weeks
Change in oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximeter.
Baseline and end of 12 weeks
Heart Rate
Time Frame: Baseline and end of 12 weeks
Change in heart rate measured using a pulse oximeter device.
Baseline and end of 12 weeks
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score
Time Frame: Baseline and end of 12 weeks
Change in cognitive function assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function.
Baseline and end of 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Hasan Kalyoncu University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ilker DEMİR, PhD, Inonu University

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)

October 12, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 15, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

November 28, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024/113 (Other Identifier: Hasan Kalyoncu Universty)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data may be shared upon reasonable request, subject to approval by the principal investigator and institutional ethics committee, and in accordance with data protection and confidentiality regulations.

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.

Clinical Trials on Liver Transplantation

Clinical Trials on Telerehabilitation Exercise Group

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Benin

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe