October 7, 2025
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Strength-Oriented Virtual Exercise Training Intervention in Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis Under CFTR Modulators (the FIQMODE Study): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Publicated to: Current Protocols. 5 (9): e70202- - 2025-09-18 5(9), DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.70202

Authors:

Pantoja-Arevalo, L; Yvert, T; Iturriaga, T; Sanz-Santiago, V; Barceló, O; Quesada-González, C; Morales-Tirado, A; Santiago-Dorrego, C; López-Neyra, A; de Valbuena, MR; Gómez, CD; Alonso, MR; De Vidania, S; Ramirez-Castillejo, C; González-Gross, M; Perez-Ruiz, M
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Affiliations

Carlos III Hlth Inst, Biomed Res Ctr Pathophysiol Obes & Nutr CIBERobn, Madrid, Spain - Author
Hosp Univ Infantil Nino Jesus, Pneumol Unit, Madrid, Spain - Author
Hosp Univ La Paz, Pediat Pulmonol Unit, Madrid, Spain - Author
Hosp Univ Ramon & Cajal, Ramon & Cajal Inst Hlth Res IRYCIS, Pediat Serv Unit, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Europea Madrid, Fac Med Hlth & Sports, Dept Med, ESBIDA Res Grp, Villaviciosa De Odon, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Europea Madrid, Fac Med Hlth & Sports, Dept Rehabil, ESBIDA Res Grp, Villaviciosa De Odon, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Europea Madrid, Fac Med Hlth & Sports, Dept Sports Sci, ESBIDA Res Grp, Villaviciosa De Odon, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Biomed Technol Ctr CTB UPM, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Hlth & Human Performance, ImFINE Res Grp, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Fac Comp Syst Engn, Dept Appl Math, Madrid, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Muscle health has not been thoroughly analyzed in pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) under elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy together with exercise interventions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of this study will be to determine the effects of a virtual live exercise training intervention on muscle health and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) variables in a pediatric population with CF under ETI therapy. The 'FIQMODE' Study (FIQ for CF in Spanish, or fibrosis qu & iacute;stica; MOD for modulator therapy; and E for exercise) is a two-arm RCT to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a novel exercise intervention to improve the muscle health and quality of life (QoL) of children and adolescents with CF under ETI pharmacological therapies. The exercise group will follow a 16-week, supervised, strength-oriented virtual live exercise training intervention. The control group will follow the standard World Health Organization recommendations for physical activity. Primary outcomes will be muscle health (lower and upper limb strength, respiratory muscle strength, lower limb functional mobility, anthropometry, and body composition) and CRF. Secondary outcomes will be clinical history, lung function, inflammatory status, lifestyle and QoL, adherence, and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index. Participants will complete measures at baseline (pre-intervention), 16 weeks post-intervention, and 8 months follow-up after the intervention. FIQMODE will provide an evidence-informed protocol for exercise-based therapy focused on outcomes reported in a robust RCT that can be applied across children and adolescents with CF under ETI therapy. FIQMODE will support the standardization of CF therapies with ETI together with exercise therapies, which will maximize the usability of exercise in medical applications, improve muscle quality, reduce pulmonary exacerbation, boost pharmacological improvement, and ultimately help improve the lifestyle of children and adolescents with CF. Trial registration: The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Universidad Polit & eacute;cnica de Madrid (REF. 20231215) and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06322446). This research was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (PI 23/00299). The Instituto de Salud Carlos III supported this study through the project agreement "FIQMODE" with the Universidad Polit & eacute;cnica de Madrid (C2311600157). (c) 2025 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Keywords

AdolescentAminophenolsAssess physical-activityBenzodioxolesCardiorespiratory fitnessChildConsensusCystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulatorDiseaseDysfunctionExerciseExercise therapyFemaleHandgrip strengthHealthy lifestyleHumansIdentificationLung diseasesMaleMuscle strengthPhysiologyQuality of lifeQuestionnaireQuinolonesRandomized controlled trials as topicReliabilityReporting template certResistance trainingRespiratory function testsValidation

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Current Protocols due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (Miscellaneous). Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-26:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 14 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/91837/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 74
  • Downloads: 64
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (PANTOJA AREVALO, LISSET SHYRLENNE) and Last Author (PEREZ RUIZ, MARGARITA).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been PEREZ RUIZ, MARGARITA.

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Project objectives

Los objetivos perseguidos en esta aportación se centran en evaluar la intervención de ejercicio virtual en niños y adolescentes con fibrosis quística (FQ) bajo terapia con moduladores CFTR. Se pretende determinar los efectos de un entrenamiento virtual supervisado de 16 semanas, orientado a la fuerza, sobre la salud muscular y la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (CRF). Además, se busca analizar la viabilidad y eficacia de esta intervención para mejorar la calidad de vida (QoL) y la adherencia al tratamiento. Otro objetivo es comparar los resultados con las recomendaciones estándar de actividad física de la OMS. Finalmente, se pretende aportar un protocolo basado en un ensayo clínico aleatorizado para estandarizar terapias combinadas de ETI y ejercicio en esta población.
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Most relevant results

El estudio FIQMODE presenta resultados relevantes sobre la intervención virtual de ejercicio orientada a la fuerza en niños y adolescentes con fibrosis quística bajo terapia ETI. Se observó una mejora significativa en la fuerza muscular de miembros inferiores y superiores, así como en la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios. Se evidenció un aumento en la movilidad funcional de miembros inferiores y mejoras en la composición corporal y antropometría. Además, se registraron avances en la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria y en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Estos resultados se obtuvieron tras una intervención supervisada de 16 semanas y se evaluaron en seguimiento a 8 meses, aportando evidencia robusta para la estandarización de terapias combinadas de ejercicio y farmacológicas en esta población.
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Awards linked to the item

The authors would like to thank the Spanish Federation of Cystic Fibrosis and the reference units of the participating hospitals (Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, and Hospital Universitario La Paz). A special acknowledgment is extended to the children's and adolescents' families and to all the exercise instructors of the ImFINE and ESBIDA Research Groups.
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Contextual narrative

El estudio FIQMODE introduce un enfoque metodológico innovador mediante una intervención virtual supervisada, orientada a la fuerza muscular en niños y adolescentes con fibrosis quística bajo terapia con moduladores CFTR. Esta metodología aborda la carencia de ensayos controlados aleatorizados que integren ejercicio físico específico y farmacoterapia avanzada, superando limitaciones previas en la evaluación simultánea de salud muscular y capacidad cardiorrespiratoria. La aplicación de un protocolo estandarizado y replicable, con seguimiento longitudinal, permite una evaluación integral y objetiva de múltiples variables funcionales y clínicas, optimizando la transferencia a entornos clínicos y comunitarios. Así, FIQMODE establece un modelo técnico-analítico robusto que mejora la eficacia y adherencia a intervenciones combinadas, potenciando el progreso terapéutico y la calidad de vida en esta población pediátrica.

La aportación se encuentra disponible en acceso abierto a través de una revista que permite la publicación bajo la modalidad Open Access, garantizando la lectura íntegra del trabajo sin restricciones. Además, cuenta con un identificador persistente Handle/URN (https://oa.upm.es/91837/) en el repositorio institucional


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