Exercise in Gulf War Illness (GWI)

Gulf War Illness Clinical Trial

Official title: Exercise in Gulf War Illness (GWI)

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if submaximal exercise by bicycle stress tests with pulmonary measurement of VO2MAX plus maximal isometric hand grips on 2 consecutive days causes a higher level of "exertional exhaustion" in GWI compared to healthy veterans (HVets).

Clinical Trial Description

Subjects sat on upright bicycles for preexercise symptoms, respiratory gases, EKG, and vital sign measurements.

Submaximal exercise began at low resistance with increases every 30 to 60 seconds until 70% predicted heart rate was reached by 5 minutes. Subjects maintained their pace until 25 minutes, then resistance was increased incrementally to increase to 85% predicted heart rate (approximately sufficient to reach anaerobic threshold).

Symptoms, respiratory gases, EKG, and vital signs were measured every 5 minutes, at peak of exercise, and 5 minute intervals after exercise.

The identical exercise protocol was used approximately 24 hr later. Secondary outcomes were assessed by comparisons from before exercise to after the second bicycle exercise stress test. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Gulf War Illness
• Persian Gulf Syndrome
• Syndrome

• NCT number: NCT01291758
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Georgetown University
• Status: Completed
• Start date: July 2009
• Completion date: September 2012