Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation as an Adjunct to Exercise Training in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Condition: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
MeSH terms: Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Skeletal muscle dysfunction impairs exercise capacity, quality of life and prognosis in
      chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this prospective randomized
      controlled study was to evaluate effects of Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) plus
      quadriceps muscle training (NMES group) and sham NMES plus quadriceps muscle training
      (control group) on muscle function, exercise capacity, health related quality of life,
      activities of daily living, and self-efficacy in patients with COPD who are eligible and able
      to participate in endurance training.
    

Detailed description: 
      Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common and impaires exercise capacity in patients with chronic
      obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Exercise training is the main component of the treatment
      of COPD.

      Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is successful in COPD patients who are unable to
      perform exercise training. The NMES has positive effect on peripheral muscle function,
      exercise capacity and breathlessness in activities of daily living in COPD patients who had
      an abnormal body composition or who were too dyspneic to leave their home. A nonrandomized
      uncontrolled study has shown that application of NMES at home for improved exercise capacity
      in patients with better-preserved muscle mass. Evidence from a preliminary study without
      applying sham NMES revealed that NMES applied as complementary to ambulatory respiratory
      rehabilitation program increased quadriceps strength, quality of life and six minute walk
      distance in severe to very severe patients.

      Despite documented benefits of NMES in COPD patients, the place of NMES as an adjunct to
      pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients who were able to do regular endurance and strength
      training on is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of
      NMES plus quadriceps muscle training (NMES group) and sham NMES plus quadriceps muscle
      training (control group) on muscle function, dyspnea, fatigue, exercise capacity, health
      related quality of life, activities of daily living, and self-efficacy in patients with COPD
      who are eligible and able to participate in endurance training.
    

Intervention name(s): Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Endurance training; Quadriceps strength training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Bilateral quadriceps NMES using a four-channel portable electrical stimulator. Biphasic symmetric constant current impulses with a pulse width 300 µs, a frequency of 50 Hz, and duty cycle of 10 s on and 20 s off was applied for 20 min per day, 2 days per week for 10 weeks.; Endurance training consists of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (15 minutes on treadmill and 15 minutes on stationary bicycle) at 80% of maximal heart rate; Quadriceps resistance training was applied using free weights for 2 days per week for 10 weeks according to 1 repetition maximum, starting at 45% for two sets.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: COPD; exercise; neuromuscular electrical stimulation