Hospital-Based and Home-Based Resistance Training in Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Isotonic strength will be assessed three times on both the right and left sides. Isotonic strength will be evaluated using the 1-repetition maximum technique with a weight training station for knee extension, pull down, chest press, and pec deck functions.

Isometric strength will be assessed three times on both the right and left sides. Isometric strength will be assessed using a manual muscle testing device (K-Force Push, France) for knee extension, shoulder and hip abduction, flexion, and extension, as well as elbow flexion and extension.

Maximum isometric hand grip strength will be assessed using a digital hand dynamometer (K-Force Grip, France). During the test, individuals will be seated upright in a chair with their elbow positioned at a 90° flexion. Three measurements will be taken for both the right and left hands, and the highest value will be recorded. A 20-second rest period will be allowed between measurements.

Functional capacity will be assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6 MWT). For the 6 MWT, the start and end points of a 30-meter corridor will be marked, and participants will be instructed to walk the distance at their maximum walking speed without running for 6 minutes. Before and after the test, fatigue levels will be recorded using the Borg scale, along with measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. The 6 MWT is considered an easily applicable, widely used, and safe submaximal exercise test for individuals with congenital heart disease.

The Glittre Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Test will be used to assess activities of daily living and functional status. Participants will begin the test in a seated position, wearing backpacks weighing 5 kg for men and 2.5 kg for women. The test will take place over a 10-meter distance between a chair and a shelf, with a two-step staircase located in the middle. Participants will be asked to walk as quickly as possible to the steps, climb up and down, pick up a 1-kilogram bottle from the shelf, first place it in the center, then lower it, return it to the center, and finally place it at the top. They will then return, pass the steps, sit back in the chair, and stand up again to complete one round. The total time taken to complete five rounds will be recorded in minutes.

The Six-Minute Pegboard and Ring Test (6-PBRT) will be used to assess upper extremity exercise capacity. For the test, a board will be used with six holes spaced 10 cm apart on a horizontal plane, and six additional holes will be positioned 20 cm below them in alignment. Four wooden rods, easily inserted and removed from the holes, will be placed, and 20 rings that fit the rods will be used. The placement of the rods will be based on the individual's shoulder width measurement. Participants will be instructed to place the rings with both hands, first from the bottom to the top, then from the top to the bottom, over the course of six minutes. Two rings that are removed and replaced simultaneously will be counted as one set. At the end of the six minutes, the total number of rings placed will be recorded in terms of the number of completed rings.

The lean body mass percentage of the individual will be determined by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. The measurement will be made by the individual standing on the device with bare feet and waiting. If the lean body mass percentage values are in the normal range, the body composition is normal; lean body mass percentage low values indicate deterioration of body composition.

Arterial stiffness will be assessed non-invasively using the Mobil-O-GRAPH (TG) device (I.E.M., Stolberg, Germany), an oscillometer-based device, with the pulse wave velocity (PWV) technique. During the measurement, the patient will sit in an upright position on a chair and remain still in silence. The cuff of the device will be placed on the individual's right arm, with its lower edge positioned above the elbow. The individual's arm will be supported and fixed with a pillow to align with the level of the heart.

It will be evaluated using the 4-meter Walk Test. The 4-meter walk test will be conducted on a 4-meter long track, with clearly marked start and end points using cones. The patient will be asked to complete the test at their usual walking speed. The timer will start at the initial movement and stop when the end point is crossed.

It will be evaluated using the Dual-Task Timed Up and Go Test.The Dual-Task Timed Up and Go Test, individuals will be asked to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters at a safe and normal pace, turn around, walk back, and sit down again, with the time recorded in seconds. During the test, individuals will also be asked to hold a glass of water in one hand to assess motor function, and to count backward from 100 in threes to assess cognitive function. A shorter time indicates better balance and mobility ability.

It will be evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. The MoCA assesses functions such as short-term memory, visuospatial skills, executive functions, abstract thinking, verbal fluency, attention, concentration, and language. The highest possible total score on the test is 30. The normal cut off score for the test is 21 points or higher. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were conducted by Ozdilek et al.

It will be assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). The SF-36 is a scale that evaluates general health perception and quality of life. It consists of a total of 8 subcategories: physical function, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, social functioning, pain, and general health perception. The scale includes 36 items and 11 questions. Each subcategory is scored between 0 and 100. A higher score indicates a higher quality of life. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were conducted by Pinar et al.