Tests a home exercise bike program in children with repaired heart defects
Tests a home video game exercise bike program in youths with repaired congenital heart disease.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: HIIT in Youth With Congenital Heart Disease (MedBIKE)
Key facts
- Where
- Edmonton, CanadaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for children and teens aged 10 to 18 who have had surgery or other repair for moderate to complex congenital heart disease. They would do home exercise on a video game-linked bike.
- Age
- 10 to 18 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Repaired moderate-complex congenital heart disease.
- Earlier treatment
- Cannot join if they took part before in a cardiac rehab or exercise program. The heart disease must be repaired, not left unrepaired or unpalliated.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Does not speak English
- Home has no space for the MedBIKE system
- Cardiologist restricts exercise or advises against taking part
- Moderate or worse heart pumping weakness on the latest echocardiogram
- Heart rhythm problems in the last year, or chest pain on exertion
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 10 and 18 years old?
Source: NCT04575883, who can take part
Where in Canada
- University of AlbertaEdmonton, CanadaContact: Rae FoshaugTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- University of Alberta
- Trial code
- NCT04575883
- Record updated
- 5 February 2026
- Original description
Congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common birth defect, is present in nearly 1% of the population. CHD patients are associated with intense resource utilization and premature death in adulthood. The risk of premature death is linked with reduced exercise capacity, a finding consistently noted in youth with CHD. Reduced exercise capacity in this population has also been associated with reduce physical activity and health-related quality of life.Read full original descriptionShow less
High Intensity Interval Training in Youth With Congenital Heart Disease: A Prospective Clinical Trial of a Novel Telemedicine Video Game-Linked Exercise Platform
Congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common birth defect, is present in nearly 1% of the population. CHD patients are associated with intense resource utilization and premature death in adulthood. The risk of premature death is linked with reduced exercise capacity, a finding consistently noted in youth with CHD. Reduced exercise capacity in this population has also been associated with reduce physical activity and health-related quality of life.
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in adults with acquired heart disease is an established secondary prevention strategy that improves exercise capacity. The investigators propose a prospective clinical trial of a home-based high intensity interval training (HIIT) program using a novel telemedicine-equipped video game-linked cycle ergometer (MedBIKE™) for 10 to 18 year olds with repaired moderate-complex CHD. The pilot study with the MedBIKE has shown promising results. The investigators now seek to study the efficacy of this program in a broader CHD population.
Inclusion: Children and adolescents aged 10-18 years; Repaired moderate-complex congenital heart disease.
Exclusion: Previous involvement in a cardiac rehab or exercise intervention program; Previous exercise stress test demonstrating sustained arrhythmias, ST segment elevation or depression greater than 3mm, an inappropriate rise in blood pressure (BP) (<20 mmHg) or a systolic BP >200 mmHg, or symptoms of chest pain or syncope; History of chest pain on exertion; Arrhythmias in the last year (including supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular block (Mobitz II or worse)); New York Heart Association class II or worse symptoms; Active medical inter-current illness limiting ability to participate; Cognitive impairment limiting the communication needed for the HIIT program; Non-English speaking (thus limiting communication during the MedBIKE™ sessions); Home environment cannot accommodate the MedBIKE™ system (space limitations); Primary cardiologist has exercise restricted the participant or counsels against participation; Resting arterial saturation <85% or oxygen requirements; Moderate ventricular systolic dysfunction (or worse) at the most recent echocardiogram; Unrepaired/unpalliated CHD; Extracardiac or congenital abnormality limiting the participant's functional ability to exercise.