AzTrials
AzTrials

Intensive Care Unit Acquired WeaknessCYCLENCT03471247

CYCLE: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Early In-bed Cycling for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

A study testing In-Bed Cycle Ergometer and Routine PT in people with Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness and Critical Care, run by McMaster University at 16 sites in 3 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Patients who survive critical illness usually experience long-lasting physical and psychological impairments, which are often debilitating. Rehabilitation interventions started in the ICU may reduce this morbidity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
In-Bed Cycle Ergometer and Routine PT
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
363 participants
Where
16 sitesin 3 countries
Study dates
15 Oct 2018to 26 Aug 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 is ≥ 18 years of age
  • Patient is invasively mechanically ventilated ≤ 4 days
  • Expected additional 2 day ICU stay
  • Ability to ambulate independently (with or without gait aid) before their critical illness
  • ICU length of stay ≤ 7 days

Who cannot join

  • Pre-hospital inability to follow simple commands in local language at baseline
  • Acute conditions impairing ability to receive cycling
  • Severe cognitive impairment pre-ICU
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Acute proven or suspected central or peripheral neuromuscular weakness affecting the legs (e.g., stroke, Guillian-Barre syndrome, spinal injury)
  • Temporary pacemaker (internal or external)
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Expected hospital mortality ≥ 90%
  • Equipment unable to fit patient's body dimensions (elg., leg amputation, morbid obesity)
  • Palliative goals of care
  • Pregnancy (suspected or proven)
  • Specific surgical exclusion as stipulated by surgery or ICU team
  • Physician declines
  • Cycling exemption not resolved during first 4 days of mechanical ventilation
  • Patient already able to march on spot at time of screening

Trial locations and contacts

16 sites in 3 countries.

16 sites in 3 countries

Canada13 sites
  • Brant Community Healthcare System - Brantford General Hospital

    Brantford, Ontario, N3R 1G9

  • Hamilton Health Sciences - Hamilton General Hospital

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2

  • St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4A6

  • Hamilton Health Sciences - Juravinski Hospital

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8V 1C3

  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre - Kingston General Hospital

    Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7

  • Centre Integre de Sante et de Services Sociaux de Chaudiere-Appalaches - Hotel-Dieu de Levis

    Lévis, Quebec, G6V 3Z1

  • London Health Sciences Centre - Victoria Hospital

    London, Ontario, N6A 5W9

  • Centre Integre Universitaire de Sante et de Services Sociaux du Nord-de-L'Ile-de-Montreal - Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal

    Montreal, Quebec, H4J 1C5

  • The Ottawa Hospital - General Campus

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6

  • The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9

  • Centre Integre Universitaire de Sante et de services sociaux de l'Estrie - Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke

    Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4

  • Niagara Health System - St. Catharines Site

    St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 0A9

  • St. Michael's Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8

Other trials in Canada

United States2 sites
  • University of Maryland Medical Centre

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21201

  • Duke University Hospital

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710

Other trials in United States

Australia1 site
  • Austin Health - Austin Hospital

    Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084

Other trials in Australia

About this study

Official title: CYCLE RCT: An International, Multi-centre, Randomized Clinical Trial of Early In-bed Cycling for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Patients who survive critical illness usually experience long-lasting physical and psychological impairments, which are often debilitating. Rehabilitation interventions started in the ICU may reduce this morbidity. In-bed cycling, which uses a special bicycle that attaches to the hospital bed, allows critically ill patients who are mechanically ventilated (MV) to gently exercise their legs while in the ICU. The main goal of this study is to determine whether critically ill MV adults recover faster if they receive early in-bed cycling than if they do not. Another objective is to determine whether in-bed cycling is a cost-effective intervention. 360 patients admitted to the ICU and receiving MV will be enrolled in the study. Following informed consent, patients will be randomized to either (1) early in-bed cycling and routine physiotherapy or (2) routine physiotherapy alone. Patients' strength and physical function will be measured throughout the study. If early in-bed cycling during critical illness improves short-term physical and functional outcomes, it could accelerate recovery and reduce long-term disability in ICU survivors.

Read the detailed description

Background: Survivors of critical illness have a long road of physical, cognitive, and psychological recovery. Although medical advances have reduced the mortality of critical illness, survival often comes with substantial long-term morbidity and societal cost. At 1-year follow-up, ~35% of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors had sub-normal 6-minute walk distance, and ~50% had not returned to work. Rehabilitation interventions started in the ICU may reduce this morbidity. In-bed cycling is a novel technology that may help critically ill, mechanically ventilated (MV) patients receive exercise very early to prevent or attenuate muscle weakness. Patients on MV typically receive prolonged bedrest and are often perceived as 'too sick' for physiotherapy (PT) interventions. However expert consensus and our previous multicentre pilot work suggest these interventions are safe. The CYCLE RCT will evaluate whether early in-bed cycling compared to usual PT interventions improves patient-reported outcomes.

Objectives:

  1. CYCLE RCT: To determine if early in-bed cycling and routine PT compared to routine PT alone in critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults improves the primary outcome of physical function at 3 days after ICU discharge and secondary outcomes of strength, physical function, frailty, psychological distress, quality of life, mortality, and healthcare utilization.
  2. Economic Evaluation: To determine the cost-effectiveness of cycling and routine PT compared to routine PT alone among critically ill, mechanically ventilated adults.

Design: 360-patient concealed open-label RCT with blinded outcome assessment

Population: Critically ill adults receiving MV in a medical-surgical ICU

Methods: After informed consent, patients will be randomized to receive 30 minutes/day of cycling, 5 days per week and routine PT interventions or routine PT interventions alone. Assessors, blinded to treatment allocation, will measure the primary outcome of patients' physical function at 3 days post-ICU. Secondary outcomes will be measured at ICU awakening, ICU discharge, 3 days post-ICU, hospital discharge, and 90-days post-enrollment.

Relevance: By 2026, demand for ICU services is estimated to increase by 40% and more survivors will be at risk for post-ICU disability. If early cycling during critical illness improves short-term physical and functional outcomes, it could accelerate recovery and reduce long-term disability in ICU survivors.

Being tested
In-Bed Cycle Ergometer, Routine PT
Medical subject headings
Respiratory Insufficiency

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • In-Bed Cycle ErgometerDevice

    Also called Restorative Therapies RT300 Supine

    Physiotherapists will place the patient's legs in a specialized in-bed cycle ergometer allowing for gentle leg exercise. Exercise can performed in passive, active-assisted, or active mode.

  • Routine PTOther

    Includes, based on the patient's alertness and medical stability, activities to maintain or increase limb range of motion and strength, in- and out- of bed mobility, ambulation, and assistance with optimizing airway clearance and respiratory function.

Study groups in NCT03471247
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
In-Bed Cycle Ergometer + Routine PTExperimentalPatients will receive 30 minutes of in-bed cycling once per day, 5 days per week, while they remain in the ICU, for up to a maximum of 28 days. They will also receive routine physiotherapy.
Receives: Device: In-Bed Cycle Ergometer; Other: Routine PT
Routine PTActive comparatorPatients will receive routine physiotherapy interventions per current institutional practice
Receives: Other: Routine PT

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Physical Function Test for ICU-scored (PFIT-s)

    Patients complete 4 activities: arm and leg strength, ability to stand, and step cadence. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores = better function.

    Measured: 3 days after ICU discharge

Secondary outcomes (17)
  1. Physical Function Test for ICU-scored (PFIT-s)

    Patients complete 4 activities: arm and leg strength, ability to stand, and step cadence. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores = better function.

    Measured: ICU Awakening, approximately 6 days after ICU admission; ICU Discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; Hospital Discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  2. Muscle Strength

    Manual muscle testing using the Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale. The patient exerts a force against the examiner's resistance. Each muscle is assessed on a 6-point scale (0 = no contraction, 5 = contraction sustained against maximal resistance). Scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores = better strength.

    Measured: ICU Awakening, approximately 6 days after ICU admission; ICU Discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; 3 days after ICU discharge; Hospital Discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  3. 30 Second Sit to Stand

    Patient completes as many sit to stand repetitions as possible in 30 seconds. Total number of repetitions is recorded as patient's score. Higher repetitions represent better function.

    Measured: ICU Awakening, approximately 6 days after ICU admission; ICU Discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; 3 days after ICU discharge; Hospital Discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  4. Two Minute Walk Test

    Maximum distance walked in 2 minutes measured in metres on a continuous scale.

    Measured: ICU Discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; 3 days after ICU discharge; Hospital Discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  5. Patient-Reported Functional Scale-ICU (PRFS-ICU)

    Assesses patient's perception of their physical function. Patients rate their ability to perform 6 mobility activities on a 0-10 scale (0=unable to perform activity, 10=able to perform activity at same level as before ICU admission). Scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores representing better function.

    Measured: ICU discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; hospital discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission; 3 months after enrollment

  6. Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale

    Rates the patient's ability to complete 6 tasks: bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, continence, and bed mobility. A rater assesses whether the patient is dependent or independent according to pre-specified criteria. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores representing better function.

    Measured: Baseline; ICU discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; hospital discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  7. Clinical Frailty Scale

    Patients are ranked on a scale from 1-9 according to level of frailty based on clinical descriptions (1 = very fit, 9 = terminally ill).

    Measured: Baseline; hospital discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  8. Intensive Care Psychological Assessment Tool (IPAT)

    Patients answer 10 questions related to critical care-related psychological distress. Scores range from 0-20, with scores of 7 or greater indicating a patient at risk of future psychological morbidity.

    Measured: After ICU awakening assessment, approximately 7 days after ICU admission

  9. Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

    Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation

    Measured: From study admission to ICU discharge, approximately 10 days

  10. Length of stay

    ICU and Hospital length of stay

    Measured: From hospital admission to ICU discharge (approximately 14 days) and hospital discharge (approximately 21 days)

  11. Health-Related Quality of Life - EuroQol-5D-5L and Visual Analogue Scale

    Five question self-administered, preference-based instrument to measure mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression, as well as a visual analogue scale (VAS) global assessment of health. For each dimension, the participant chooses 1 of 5 levels that best describes their health on that day: "no problem" (1), "slight" (2), "moderate" (3), "severe" (4), or "unable/extreme" (5). The VAS is the participant's rating of their health on a scale of 0 "worst health you can imagine" to 100 "best health you can imagine".

    Measured: ICU discharge, approximately 12 days after ICU admission; hospital discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission; 3 months after enrollment

  12. Mortality

    Death in ICU, hospital, or post-discharge.

    Measured: From study admission to 3 months after enrollment

  13. Hospital Discharge Location

    For survivors: home, inpatient rehabilitation, other hospital, chronic care, assisted living facility, nursing home.

    Measured: Hospital discharge, approximately 28 days after ICU admission

  14. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    Patient answers 14 questions related to anxiety and depression. Scores range from 0-21 with higher score indicating more distress.

    Measured: 3 months after enrollment

  15. Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)

    A measure of health outcomes for economic evaluation that incorporates the impact of an intervention on both the quantity and quality of life.

    Measured: 3 months after enrollment

  16. Healthcare Utilization

    Includes emergency room visits and hospitalizations, family doctor visits, specialist visits and outpatient clinics, other healthcare professional services.

    Measured: From study admission to 3 months after enrollment

  17. Intervention and Healthcare Costs

    Includes emergency room visits and hospitalizations, family doctor visits, specialist visits and outpatient clinics, assistive devices, renovations and modifications, other healthcare professional services, employment status and time off work, assistance from others.

    Measured: From study admission to 3 months after enrollment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Mar 2018
  2. Study start15 Oct 2018
  3. Primary completion26 May 2023
  4. Study completion26 Aug 2024

Resources

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
363 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03471247
Sponsor's protocol ID
CYCLE RCT
Acronym
CYCLE
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
7 Mar 2018
Last updated
9 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Heels-Ansdell D, Kelly L, O'Grady HK, Farley C, Reid JC, Berney S, Pastva AM, Burns KE, D'Aragon F, Herridge MS, Seely A, Rudkowski J, Rochwerg B, Fox-Robichaud A, Ball I, Lamontagne F, Duan EH, Tsang J, Archambault PM, Verceles AC, Muscedere J, Mehta S, English SW, Karachi T, Serri K, Reeve B, Thabane L, Cook D, Kho ME. Early In-Bed Cycle Ergometry With Critically Ill, Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Statistical Analysis Plan for CYCLE (Critical Care Cycling to Improve Lower Extremity Strength), an International, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Oct 28;13:e54451. doi: 10.2196/54451.

    PubMed 39467285
  • Reid JC, Molloy A, Strong G, Kelly L, O'Grady H, Cook D, Archambault PM, Ball I, Berney S, Burns KEA, D'Aragon F, Duan E, English SW, Lamontagne F, Pastva AM, Rochwerg B, Seely AJE, Serri K, Tsang JLY, Verceles AC, Reeve B, Fox-Robichaud A, Muscedere J, Herridge M, Thabane L, Kho ME; CYCLE Investigators. Research interrupted: applying the CONSERVE 2021 Statement to a randomized trial of rehabilitation during critical illness affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trials. 2022 Sep 2;23(1):735. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06640-y.

    PubMed 36056378
  • Kho ME, Reid J, Molloy AJ, Herridge MS, Seely AJ, Rudkowski JC, Buckingham L, Heels-Ansdell D, Karachi T, Fox-Robichaud A, Ball IM, Burns KEA, Pellizzari JR, Farley C, Berney S, Pastva AM, Rochwerg B, D'Aragon F, Lamontagne F, Duan EH, Tsang JLY, Archambault P, English SW, Muscedere J, Serri K, Tarride JE, Mehta S, Verceles AC, Reeve B, O'Grady H, Kelly L, Strong G, Hurd AH, Thabane L, Cook DJ; CYCLE Investigators and the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. Critical Care Cycling to Improve Lower Extremity Strength (CYCLE): protocol for an international, multicentre randomised clinical trial of early in-bed cycling for mechanically ventilated patients. BMJ Open. 2023 Jun 23;13(6):e075685. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075685.

    PubMed 37355270
  • Kho ME, Berney S, Pastva AM, Kelly L, Reid JC, Burns KEA, Seely AJ, D'Aragon F, Rochwerg B, Ball I, Fox-Robichaud AE, Karachi T, Lamontagne F, Archambault PM, Tsang JL, Duan EH, Muscedere J, Verceles AC, Serri K, English SW, Reeve BK, Mehta S, Rudkowski JC, Heels-Ansdell D, O'Grady HK, Strong G, Obrovac K, Ajami D, Camposilvan L, Tarride JE, Thabane L, Herridge MS, Cook DJ. Early In-Bed Cycle Ergometry in Mechanically Ventilated Patients. NEJM Evid. 2024 Jul;3(7):EVIDoa2400137. doi: 10.1056/EVIDoa2400137. Epub 2024 Jun 12.

    PubMed 38865147

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing In-Bed Cycle Ergometer and Routine PT in people with Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness and Critical Care, run by McMaster University at 16 sites in 3 countries.

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 5 inclusion and 14 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 9 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 16 sites in Canada, United States, Australia. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Physical Function Test for ICU-scored (PFIT-s) (time frame: 3 days after ICU discharge). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03471247, which also lists 4 linked publications.

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 9 Oct 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in