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NCT Number: NCT06936319

Counterpressure Maneuvers in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

The present study evaluates whether performing a 14-days counter pressure maneuvers (CPM)-biofeedback training improves the symptomatic burden (primary objective) and secondarily the interference of POTS symptoms with daily activities, fatigue, and health-related quality of life of individuals with POTS compared to best clinical practice non-pharmacological measures. Secondary in-laboratory objectives are to assess the influence of CPM on the supine-to-standing heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) changes as well as on the severity of orthostatic intolerance after performing CPM for two minutes compared to a baseline (intervention-free) active standing test, and to assess the safety and tolerability of CPM-biofeedback training in individuals with POTS.

This is a monocentric, proof-of-concept, 1:1 randomized, controlled trial with rater-blinded evaluation of the hemodynamic effect of CPM in 40 individuals suffering from POTS.

All study participants will receive detailed counselling on CPM and other behavioral and non-pharmacological measures to combat POTS symptoms in daily life and will be invited to practice them regularly (best clinical practice). Participants randomized to the interventional arm will receive a CPM-biofeedback training session in the autonomic function laboratory at the Department of Neurology of the Innsbruck Medical University to learn four different CPM under continuous HR and BP monitoring. The CPM-biofeedback training will consist of a baseline 2-minutes active standing and the following four different physical maneuver: leg crossing and muscle tensing, heel raises (10 tiptoeing per minute), squatting, unilateral handgrip (20 times a minute).

The trial foresees three study visits for both the interventional and the control arm (screening and baseline on-site, as well as a telephone visit 14 days later). For the interventional trial arm, two additional visits are planned (CPM-biofeedback training session in the autonomic function laboratory and a follow-up telephone visit 7 days later).

To evaluate the baseline to day-14 change in symptom severity, the Malmö POTS Score (MAPS) total score (primary endpoint) and the MAPS single items, Vanderbilt Orthostatic Symptom Score, Orthostatic Grading Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (EuroQol -EQ-5D-5L ) will be administered.

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Key information

Conditions

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Orthostatic Intolerance Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Primary Dysautonomias

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Medical University of Innsbruck

Innsbruck, Tyrol, A-6020, Austria

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Alessandra Fanciulli, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+43 512 504 83238

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • POTS diagnosis
  • 18 to 80 years of age at time of consent
  • stable medication in the seven days prior to the baseline visit
  • able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • participation in other interventional trials
  • pregnant or breastfeeding females
  • on treatment with vasoactive medications including medications for heart rate control
  • acute infections at the time of enrolment or in the two weeks before
  • acute pain
  • surgery in the last three months
  • inability or contraindication for performing hip and knee flexion, hip adduction or squatting
  • inability to stand for at least two minutes
  • Any other cardiological, internal, psychiatric or neurological condition, which may prevent engagement in the sturdy procedures in the judgement of the investigator

Treatment and study plan

Best clinical practice plus CPM-biofeedback training

Behavioral

The CPM-biofeedback training consists of a baseline 2-minutes active standing and the following four different physical maneuver: leg crossing and muscle tensing, heel raises (10 tiptoeing per minute), squatting, unilateral handgrip (20 times per minute). All exercises will be performed under continuous heart rate and blood pressure monitoring to enable the study participants to gain feedbacks on the effect of the maneuvers on their own biosignals.

Best clinical practice

Other

Recommendations about life-style and behavioural measures to mitigate POTS symptoms in daily life.

Primary outcomes

  1. Malmö Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome symptom score (MAPS)

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 change in the total score from 0 to 120. Higher scores means more symptoms and higher symptom severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Severity of orthostatic intolerance (on a 0 - 10 points scale)

    Time frame: After performing four different counterpressure maneuvers for two minutes each during the biofeedback session, at day 1 +/-3.

    Secondary in-laboratory endpoint, orthostatic intolerance after two minutes upon standing and performing counterpressure maneuvers compared to a baseline active standing for two minutes; higher score means more severe symptoms of orthostatic intolerance.

  2. Absolute heart rate

    Time frame: At 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during four different counterpressure maneuver practiced upon standing , at day 1 +/-3.

    Absolute heart rate compared to baseline active standing.

  3. Absolute systolic and diastolic blood pressure

    Time frame: At 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during counterpressure maneuver practiced upon standing, , at day 1 +/-3.

    Absolute systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during counterpressure maneuver practiced upon standing compared to baseline active standing.

  4. Supine-to-standing change in heart rate

    Time frame: At 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during four different counterpressure maneuvers, at day 1 +/-3.

    Supine-to-standing change in heart rate at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during four different counterpressure maneuver compared to baseline active standing (same timepoints)

  5. Supine-to-standing change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure

    Time frame: At 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during four different counterpressure maneuvers, at day 1 +/-3.

    Supine-to-standing change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to baseline active standing at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds during four different counterpressure maneuvers

  6. Single items of the Malmö POTS Score (MAPS)

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 change in twelve single items of the Malmö POTS Score (MAPS) from 0-10. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.

  7. Vanderbilt Orthostatic Symptom Score (VOSS)

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 change in the 9 items Vanderbilt Orthostatic Symptom Score (VOSS, score range: 0-90). A higher score means more pronounced symptoms.

  8. Orthostatic Grading Scale (OGS)

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 change in the 5-items Orthostatic Grading Scale (OGS, score range: 0-20). Higher scores mean more interference of daily life due to symptoms.

  9. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) - german Version

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 change in the 9-items Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) - german Version (score range: 1 to 63). Higher scores mean pronounced symptoms and worse outcome.

  10. European Quality of Life, 5 Dimensions, 5 Levels (EuroQol -EQ-5D-5L - german Version)

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 change in the 5-items EuroQol -EQ-5D-5L - german Version and a 0-100 visual analogue scale. Higher scores means better outcome and self-estimated health, 100= best, 0= worse health.

  11. Estimated number and preferred choice of counterpressure maneuvers in daily life

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Baseline to day-14 estimated number and preferred choice of counterpressure maneuver in daily life. Higher numbers indicate that a given counterpressure maneouver was performed more frequently, and stand for a better compliance.

  12. Overall usefulness of counterpressure maneuvers

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Overall usefulness of counterpressure maneuvers on a Likert scale 0-10. Higher scores indicate higher subjective usefulness of a given counterpressure maneouver.

  13. Adverse events

    Time frame: Screening-Visit to day-14

    Any adverse event from screening to day-14.

  14. Barriers to counterpressure maneuver application in daily life

    Time frame: Baseline to day-14

    Barriers to counterpressure maneuver application in daily life in the opinion of the study participants. Open answers possible.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Alessandra Fanciulli, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+43 512 504 83238

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical University Innsbruck

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Physical Counterpressure Maneuvers in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) - a Monocentric, Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: CPM_in_POTS

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Apr 20, 2025
Registry last updated
May 2, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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