Respiratory Muscle Training in the ICU: IMT vs Diaphragmatic NMES

Ali Yalman

Status: Completed

Conditions: Intubated ICU Patients

Treatments: Procedure: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT); Procedure: Diaphragmatic Neuromuscular Electric Stimulation (NMES)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07571642

60116787-020/46004

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aimed to compare the effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) and Diaphragmatic Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on inspiratory muscle strength, mechanical ventilator parameters, and functional levels in intubated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Thirty-two intubated patients were divided into two groups: the IMT group and the NMES group. In the IMT group, IMT was administered twice a day in addition to routine physiotherapy. In the NMES group, electrical stimulation was applied to the diaphragm muscle for 40 minutes in addition to routine physiotherapy. The primary outcomes of the study are inspiratory muscle strength and physical function level. The secondary outcomes are mechanical ventilator parameters, extubation time, and length of hospital stay.

Full description

This randomized study aimed to compare the effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on inspiratory muscle strength, mechanical ventilator parameters, and functional levels in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

A total of 32 mechanically ventilated patients were randomly assigned to either an IMT group (n=16) or an NMES group (n=16). In addition to routine ICU physiotherapy, the IMT group received inspiratory muscle training using Philips Respironics Threshold IMT devices, while the NMES group received stimulation on the diaphragm with Aussie current using surface electrodes.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Being intubated
• Conscious state
• Ability to trigger mechanical ventilation
• Capability to execute at least one motor command

Exclusion Criteria

• Any neurological or orthopedic diagnosis or deficits
• Inability to cooperate with the physiotherapist
• Hemodynamic instability despite medical treatment
• Excessive secretions requiring aspiration more than once per hour.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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32 participants in 2 patient groups

Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT)

Active Comparator group

Description:

As a result of randomization, the IMT group consisted of 16 participants with a mean age of 70 ± 9.57 years. IMT was administered to the participants twice a day following routine physiotherapy, which included breathing exercises and mobilization.

Treatment:

Procedure: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT)

Neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES)

Experimental group

Description:

As a result of randomization, the NMES group consisted of 16 participants with a mean age of 65.31 ± 8.38 years. Following routine intensive care physiotherapy, which included breathing exercises and mobilization, NMES was applied to the diaphragm muscle for 40 minutes.

Treatment:

Procedure: Diaphragmatic Neuromuscular Electric Stimulation (NMES)