Heart FailureNCT02061319
Randomized Trial of Nordic Walking vs. Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Heart Failure
A study testing Nordic Walking in people with Heart Failure, run by Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The main purpose of our project is to see if a 12-week program of Nordic walking is better than standard exercise therapy for increasing exercise capacity (measured by how far people can walk in 6 minutes) and increasing quality of life (measured by having people fill out two questionnaires). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Heart Failure
- What is being tested?
- Nordic Walking
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 77 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- Mar 2014to 31 Aug 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patient has a confirmed diagnosis of HF based on a HF admission and/or a clear diagnosis of HF and/or reduced ejection fraction (≤45% measured by echocardiography within the last six months);
- Patient is referred to cardiac rehabilitation program;
- Patient is willing to attend an onsite cardiac rehabilitation program twice weekly for 12 weeks;
- In the opinion of the referring physician, the patient is medically stable, and able to participate in an exercise program
- Patient is able, in the opinion of the qualified investigator, to comprehend and participate in the exercise intervention;
- Patient is 18 years of age or older;
- Patient is willing to provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Patient is unable to read and understand English or French
- Patient intends to begin cardiac rehabilitation within the next 6 weeks
- Patient is unwilling or unable to return for follow-up visits at 12 and 26 weeks;
- Patient is currently using Nordic Walking poles.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The main purpose of our project is to see if a 12-week program of Nordic walking is better than standard exercise therapy for increasing exercise capacity (measured by how far people can walk in 6 minutes) and increasing quality of life (measured by having people fill out two questionnaires). We will also see if Nordic walking: improves heart performance (measured by heart ultrasound); improves how active people are (measured by an activity monitor); increases aerobic fitness (measured by a treadmill test); improves body composition (measured by waist size); and reduces hormone levels in the blood.
Read the detailed description
A single-site, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial will be conducted (Appendix C) at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). Patients with stable HF referred to cardiac rehabilitation will undergo baseline assessment and then be randomly assigned (1:1) to either standard exercise therapy (consisting of regular walking and a resistance exercise program) or Nordic walking. Follow-up measures will be taken at the end of intervention (12 weeks) and after a 14-week no-intervention observation period (26 weeks). After initial randomization to treatment group, participants will be stratified by treatment group and randomly assigned to one of three follow-up measurement conditions at 12 weeks: echocardiograph and cardiopulmonary test (N=80); cardiopulmonary test only (N=60); or no follow-up echocardiograph or cardiopulmonary test (N=76). The primary outcomes will be: a) changes in exercise capacity measured by 6MWT; and b) changes in disease-specific HRQL measured by the MLHFQ. Additional measures will examine the effects of the exercise interventions on: cardiac performance; leisure time activity; cardio-respiratory fitness; body composition; neurohormonal activation; and generic HRQL
- Conditions
- Heart Failure
- Being tested
- Nordic Walking
- Medical subject headings
- Heart Failure
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nordic WalkingBehavioural
Participants in the Nordic walking group will be provided with walking poles (GymstickTM Nordic Walking Poles, Gymstick International OY, Lahti, Finland) for the duration of the study. They will attend on-site exercise classes twice weekly for 12 weeks. The on-site exercise training classes will be one hour in length and include the following components: a 15 minute chair warm-up that excludes resistance exercises; 10-15 minutes of walking with Nordic walking poles for the first 3 weeks, progressing to 30 minutes of continuous walking with poles for the remaining 9 weeks; and 15 minutes of cool down exercises. Participants will be instructed to take the walking poles home and perform 200-400 minutes of Nordic walking per week for 12 weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Walking Group | Experimental | Participants in the Nordic walking group will be provided with walking poles (GymstickTM Nordic Walking Poles, Gymstick International OY, Lahti, Finland) for the duration of the study. They will attend on-site exercise classes twice weekly for 12 weeks. The on-site exercise training classes will be one hour in length and include the following components: a 15 minute chair warm-up that excludes resistance exercises; 10-15 minutes of walking with Nordic walking poles for the first 3 weeks, progressing to 30 minutes of continuous walking with poles for the remaining 9 weeks; and 15 minutes of cool down exercises. Participants will be instructed to take the walking poles home and perform 200-400 minutes of Nordic walking per week for 12 weeks Receives: Behavioral: Nordic Walking |
| Standard Exercise Therapy | No intervention | Individuals assigned to standard exercise therapy will attend on-site exercise classes twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each on-site class will be one hour in duration and consist of: a 15-minute chair-based warm-up that includes 6-8 upper and lower body resistance training exercises using either hand-held weights or therabands at an intensity of 50-60% of 1- RM with the patient completing one set of 10-12 repetitions progressing to 15 repetitions before increasing the intensity by 5-10%; 10-15 minutes of walking for the first 3 weeks, progressing to 30 minutes of continuous walking for the remaining 9 weeks; and 15 minutes of cool down exercises. A strength training program will be provided to participants and they will be encouraged to do one additional strength training session at home. Participants will also be instructed to complete additional walking sessions at home so that they can accumulate a total of 200-400 minutes of exercise per week. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in Exercise Capacity Measured by 6 Minute Walk Test
The 6 minute walk test was selected as a primary outcome because this sub-maximal test is a good indicator of the capacity to undertake day-to-day activities in patients with Heart Failure
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks.
Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ)
The MLHFQ is a 21-item scale that measures the effects of HF-related symptoms, functional limitations, and psychological distress on an individual's quality of life. Participants are asked to indicate using a 6-point, zero to five, Likert scale how much each of 21 factors prevent them from living as they desire. Each item is scored 0-5, and the total scores is the summed score of all items, totaling 0 - 105. Higher scores represent lower quality of life.
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (9)
Health Related Quality of Live Using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36)
Total scale is split into 2 subscales: physical component summary (PCS) and mental composition summary (MCS). Each subscale ranges from 0-100. Higher scores represent better quality of life.
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Split into 2 subscales: anxiety and depression. Each subscale has 7 items, scored from 0-3, with the total score of each subscale being 0-21 each. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety or depression. 0-7 indicates a normal range.
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical Activity
Physical activity includes any type of exercise. For example, walking, swimming, biking etc. Identification of "light", "moderate" or "vigourous" activity is determined by the participant based on perceived effort. Results are collected from exercise journals.
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Left Ventricular Filling Pressures
The left ventricular filling pressure is the pressure inside the left ventricle of the heart during the resting phase of the heart beat when the chamber fills with blood. It is assessed by echocardiography and calculate as an E/e' ratio, where E = the peak velocity of early diastolic blood flow across the mitral valve, and e' = the peak velocity of mitral valve annulus during early diastole, which is a measure of how fast the heart muscle relaxes.
Valus <8 are considered normal, 8-14 indicates potentially normal, but is baseline and requires further evaluation and >/= 15 suggests elevated pressures and presence of diastolic dysfunction or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Cardiopulmonary Fitness by VO2 Peak
assessed using CPET
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Body Mass Index
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Calf Circumference
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Waist Circumference
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Blood Levels of N-terminal Pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NTproBNP)
Measured: Baseline and 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2014 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2014
- Primary completion31 Dec 2016
- Study completion31 Aug 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Heart FailureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ottawa Heart Institute Research CorporationThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 77 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Robert Reid, Dr., Principal investigator, Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02061319
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20130774-01H
- Status last verified
- Feb 2022
- First submitted
- 10 Feb 2014
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Randomized Trial of Nordic Walking vs. Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Heart Failure
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02061319
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20130774-01H
- Conditions
- Heart Failure
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 77 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ottawa Heart Institute Research CorporationUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Mar 2014
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 13 Aug 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The main purpose of our project is to see if a 12-week program of Nordic walking is better than standard exercise therapy for increasing exercise capacity (measured by how far people can walk in 6 minutes) and increasing quality of life (measured by having people fill out two questionnaires). We will also see if Nordic walking: improves heart performance (measured by heart ultrasound); improves how active people are (measured by an activity monitor); increases aerobic fitness (measured by a treadmill test); improves body composition (measured by waist size); and reduces hormone levels in the blood.
Detailed description
A single-site, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial will be conducted (Appendix C) at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). Patients with stable HF referred to cardiac rehabilitation will undergo baseline assessment and then be randomly assigned (1:1) to either standard exercise therapy (consisting of regular walking and a resistance exercise program) or Nordic walking. Follow-up measures will be taken at the end of intervention (12 weeks) and after a 14-week no-intervention observation period (26 weeks). After initial randomization to treatment group, participants will be stratified by treatment group and randomly assigned to one of three follow-up measurement conditions at 12 weeks: echocardiograph and cardiopulmonary test (N=80); cardiopulmonary test only (N=60); or no follow-up echocardiograph or cardiopulmonary test (N=76). The primary outcomes will be: a) changes in exercise capacity measured by 6MWT; and b) changes in disease-specific HRQL measured by the MLHFQ. Additional measures will examine the effects of the exercise interventions on: cardiac performance; leisure time activity; cardio-respiratory fitness; body composition; neurohormonal activation; and generic HRQL
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Walking Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Nordic WalkingParticipants in the Nordic walking group will be provided with walking poles (GymstickTM Nordic Walking Poles, Gymstick International OY, Lahti, Finland) for the duration of the study. They will attend on-site exercise classes twice weekly for 12 weeks. The on-site exercise training classes will be one hour in length and include the following components: a 15 minute chair warm-up that excludes resistance exercises; 10-15 minutes of walking with Nordic walking poles for the first 3 weeks, progressing to 30 minutes of continuous walking with poles for the remaining 9 weeks; and 15 minutes of cool down exercises. Participants will be instructed to take the walking poles home and perform 200-400 minutes of Nordic walking per week for 12 weeks |
| Standard Exercise Therapy | No intervention | –Individuals assigned to standard exercise therapy will attend on-site exercise classes twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each on-site class will be one hour in duration and consist of: a 15-minute chair-based warm-up that includes 6-8 upper and lower body resistance training exercises using either hand-held weights or therabands at an intensity of 50-60% of 1- RM with the patient completing one set of 10-12 repetitions progressing to 15 repetitions before increasing the intensity by 5-10%; 10-15 minutes of walking for the first 3 weeks, progressing to 30 minutes of continuous walking for the remaining 9 weeks; and 15 minutes of cool down exercises. A strength training program will be provided to participants and they will be encouraged to do one additional strength training session at home. Participants will also be instructed to complete additional walking sessions at home so that they can accumulate a total of 200-400 minutes of exercise per week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patient has a confirmed diagnosis of HF based on a HF admission and/or a clear diagnosis of HF and/or reduced ejection fraction (≤45% measured by echocardiography within the last six months);
- Patient is referred to cardiac rehabilitation program;
- Patient is willing to attend an onsite cardiac rehabilitation program twice weekly for 12 weeks;
- In the opinion of the referring physician, the patient is medically stable, and able to participate in an exercise program
- Patient is able, in the opinion of the qualified investigator, to comprehend and participate in the exercise intervention;
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patient is unable to read and understand English or French
- Patient intends to begin cardiac rehabilitation within the next 6 weeks
- Patient is unwilling or unable to return for follow-up visits at 12 and 26 weeks;
- Patient is currently using Nordic Walking poles.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic WalkingParticipants in the Nordic walking group will be provided with walking poles (GymstickTM Nordic Walking Poles, Gymstick International OY, Lahti, Finland) for the duration of the study. They will attend on-site exercise classes twice weekly for 12 weeks. The on-site exercise training classes will be one hour in length and include the following components: a 15 minute chair warm-up that excludes resistance exercises; 10-15 minutes of walking with Nordic walking poles for the first 3 weeks, progressing to 30 minutes of continuous walking with poles for the remaining 9 weeks; and 15 minutes of cool down exercises. Participants will be instructed to take the walking poles home and perform 200-400 minutes of Nordic walking per week for 12 weeks | Behavioural | Nordic Walking Group |
Primary outcome
Changes in Exercise Capacity Measured by 6 Minute Walk Test
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks.
The 6 minute walk test was selected as a primary outcome because this sub-maximal test is a good indicator of the capacity to undertake day-to-day activities in patients with Heart Failure
Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
The MLHFQ is a 21-item scale that measures the effects of HF-related symptoms, functional limitations, and psychological distress on an individual's quality of life. Participants are asked to indicate using a 6-point, zero to five, Likert scale how much each of 21 factors prevent them from living as they desire. Each item is scored 0-5, and the total scores is the summed score of all items, totaling 0 - 105. Higher scores represent lower quality of life.
9 secondary outcomes
Health Related Quality of Live Using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical Activity
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Left Ventricular Filling Pressures
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Cardiopulmonary Fitness by VO2 Peak
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Body Mass Index
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Calf Circumference
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Waist Circumference
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Blood Levels of N-terminal Pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NTproBNP)
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Aug 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Robert Reid, Dr. principal investigator
Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Nordic Walking in people with Heart Failure, run by Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 Aug 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Changes in Exercise Capacity Measured by 6 Minute Walk Test (time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Aug 2026.