A) Evaluation equipment:
All patients will be evaluated before and after treatment protocol.
Body composition analyzer (in body 230):- It will be used for estimating body
composition, to measure the percentage of the body free fat mass, lean body mass and
body mass index (BMI).
Fig (1) Body composition analyzer (in body 230)
Mercury and digital sphygmomanometer and stethoscope: it will be used to measure blood
pressure. (Niscomed PW-216)
Pulse oximeter: It will be used to monitor heart rate and oxygen saturation continuously
during exercise (SantaMedical Generation 2 Fingertip).
Fig (2) Pulse oximeter
Bruce protocol:-to assess functional capacity (Vo2) max and intensity of exercise.
Tape measurement: - to assess waist circumference, waist / hip ratio.
Clini-chem 2 analyzer: - to analyze blood lipid profile and liver enzymes.
Fig (3) Clini-chem 2 analyzer
Abdominal Ultrasonography (USG) (Siemens, ACUSON NX3 ELITE, and German):- to measure
size of the liver, thickness of fat outside liver, as well as severity of the fat
infiltration.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Version (IPAQ)):- to assess level of
physical activity that patients do as part of their daily lives.
Borg scale: - to estimate effort, exertion, breathlessness and fatigue during physical
work.
B. Training equipment:-
A motorized treadmill device (KETTLER, laufband alpha run 600, German) with a minimum
speed of 0.5km/hr and capability to display the distance in kilometer per hour will be
used in this study.
Weighted vest progressions and elastic bands: - for calisthenics exercise. -Procedure of
the study:- -Assessment procedure:-
A) History and physical examination:
Complete history taking will be conducted to collect data about patient's general condition,
physical activity, current medication, and measuring blood pressure.
B) Anthropometric measurement:
Body composition analysis: - By using body composition analyzer device (In body 230).
The patient will put off his shoes and socks and stand on the device. The device
measures his weight and height automatically then the patient will hold the arms of the
device to measure total body fat (free fat mass), lean mass and body mass index (BMI).
Free fat mass (FM) % 18-24%for men; 25-31%for women and lean mass (LBM) for men 76-82%;
for women 69-75% according to The American Council on Exercise (ACE) .
Waist circumference (WC) and Waist to hip ratio (WHR):-: Placing a tape horizontal in
the midpoint between iliac crest and last rib, and take the measure just after
expiration.
Hip circumference will be measured from the widest point of the hip; then dividing waist
circumference by hip circumference to calculate waist to hip ratio. According to world health
organization, normal cut off values of waist circumference (WC < 88 cm for men; WC < 102 cm
or less for women) and waist to hip ratio (WHR < .95 cm for men ; WHR < .80 cm for
women).(World Health Organization .2000) 3- Functional capacity (VO2 max):- Using Bruce
protocol for multistage treadmill testing of maximal exercise testing will be used as the
following 3-min stages: Stage I (2 mph, 10% grade), Stage II (2.5 mph, 12% grade), Stage III
(3.4 mph, 14% grade), and Stage IV (4.2 mph, 16%). (Bruce et al., 1963) VO2 max will be
estimated from treadmill time based on following equation: For Men VO2 max = 14.8 - (1.379 x
T) +(0.451 x T²) - (0.012 x T³) For Women VO2 max = 4.38 x T - 3.9 T = Total time on the
treadmill measured as a fraction of a minute i.e.: A test time of 9 minutes 30 seconds would
be written as T=9.5 .(Khurana and Oommen 2016) C) Liver enzymes analysis:- According to
American Gastroenterological association ,the normal values of liver enzymes (alanine amino
transferase ( ALT) 7-55 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 8-48 U/L ,gamma glutamyl
transferase (GGT) 9-85U/L ). (American Gastroenterological association. 2002)
D) Blood lipid profile analysis:- According to The National Cholesterol Education Program
(NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), the normal reference range of lipid profile
(total cholesterol < 200 mg\dl, low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <100 mg\dl,
triglyceride (TG) <150 mg\dl, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ≥60mg\dl,
LDL/HDL3.5/1 mg\dl). (Cleeman et al., 2001) E) Abdominal Ultrasonography (USG):- A 10 MHZ
sonosite 180 plus US sanner (penetration depth of 2.2 cm) will be used, Ultrasonographic
findings in the liver will be as the following:-
Increase in hepatic echogenicity.
Decreased penetration of the deep part of the liver.
Decreased echogenicity of the diaphragm and intrahepatic portal vessels. (Ma et al.,
F) The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Version (IPAQ)):-It is self -
report questionnaire, It consists of seven Open-ended questions surrounding individuals' last
seven-day recall of physical activity. The IPAQ records the activity of four intensity
levels: 1) vigorous-intensity activity such as aerobics, 2) moderate-intensity activity such
as leisure cycling, 3) walking, and 4) sitting. Appendix II G) Borg scale: - It is a scale of
0-10;. The scale will allow individuals to subjectively rate their level of exertion during
exercise or exercise testing. Appendix III (2) Treatment procedure:- Group (A):- that
included 30 non-alcoholic fatty liver patients will participate in calisthenics exercise for
eight weeks, Three times/week based on the following program:-
Exercise prescription:
Fig (5) Push-up exercise
3- Plank:-That works on abs, shoulders, back, core and glutes,
Fig (6) Plank exercise
4- Squats that work on quads, hamstring, glutes, lower abs and core.
Fig (7) squat exercise
Repetitions: 10-15 for each exercise.
Sets: 1-3 sets.
Intensity of exercise: Moderate-intensity strength exercise training (65%-85%) of
(HRmax). (Guzel et al .,2012 )
Duration: 5-10 minutes warming-up in the form of simple stretching exercises .This is
followed by the active phase (20 to 30 minutes) during which a 5-10 seconds passive rest
will be allowed in-between repetitions and 1-2 minute passive recovery will be permitted
in-between sets. There will be also a cooling down phase for 5 minutes simple stretching
exercises.
Frequency: 3 days/week for 8 weeks.
Progression: the exercise program will be progressed gradually by increasing the number
of sets, repetitions and by using elastic bands and weighted vest progression.
Group (B): that included 30 non-alcoholic fatty liver patients will participate in high
intensity interval training on treadmill for eight weeks, three times/week based on the
following program:-
Warming up period for 5 min at intensity corresponding to 65-75% of heart rate maximum
(HRmax).
Training phase for 30 min divided into four sets of 4-min length each at intensity
equals 85- 90% of HRmax interspersed by 3 minutes low intensity walking at the level of
65-75% of HRmax.
Cooling down period for 5 min of at 50-60% of the HRmax. (El-Deeb et al., 2018)
All patients will be trained at the lower intensity limit for the first 2 weeks of the
program before increasing the intensity levels toward the upper limit.