Does Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Benefit the Functional Ability of Elderly Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (NEMS for COPD)

Beni-Suef University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; Pulmonary Function (FEV1/FVC); Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Treatments: Other: Study Group chest physiotherapy program combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES); Other: Control Group Chest physical therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05838911

BeniSuefU_1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: Patients with COPD often experience skeletal muscle dysfunction. For those who are unable or unwilling to undertake physical training, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may provide an alternative method of exercise training.

Objective: To investigate the effects of adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation of gluteus maximus, quadriceps and calf muscles to chest physiotherapy, compared to chest physiotherapy alone, on muscles strength (gluteus max., quadriceps, calf muscles), femoral blood flow physical and pulmonary function in severe COPD Patients.

Full description

Material and methods: This study include a group of 60 patients (30 males and 30 females) diagnosed with severe COPD), their age is ranged 65-75 years, they will be randomly divided into two groups; study group (A) 30 patients and study group (B) 30 patients. Study group (A): The patients in this group will receive the chest physiotherapy program for 20 min each day, for five days a week for three consecutive weeks. Study group (B): The patients in this group will receive the same chest physiotherapy program combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation of gluteus max., quadriceps, calf muscles, performed for 30 min /day for five days a week for three consecutive weeks. Femoral blood Flow, gluteus maximus, quadriceps and calf muscles strength and pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC) will be measured for both groups pre and post treatment.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• A diagnosis of COPD with FEV1/FVC <50% predicted as per the GOLD guidelines.
• Self-reported dyspnea and/or arm fatigue during at least one activity of daily living that required arm exercise.
• Dyspnea and/or physical activity fatigue were self-reported by the Borg Scale.
• Before entering in the study, all patients had their pulmonary function optimized with long-acting bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

Exclusion criteria

• • Patients with unstable angina pectoris.

  • Progressive ventricular dysrhythmia.
  • Intermittent claudication.
  • Implanted cardiac pacemakers.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
  • Peripheral vascular disease.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The patients in this group were received the chest physiotherapy program for 20 min each day, for five days a week for three consecutive weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Control Group Chest physical therapy

Study Group

Experimental group

Description:

The patients in this group were received the same chest physiotherapy program combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of gluteus max., quadriceps, and calf muscles performed for 30 min /day for five days a week for three consecutive weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Study Group chest physiotherapy program combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)