The Role of NEMS for Post ICU Rehabilitation

Critical Illness Clinical Trial

Official title: The Role of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation as a Tool for Post ICU Rehabilitation

Status Active, not recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of NEMS as a rehabilitation tool for muscle weakness following critical illness. The investigators hypothesized that NEMS combined with exercise rehabilitation will have a beneficial role in restoration of muscle strength

Clinical Trial Description

Survivors of critical illness are presented with significant physical impairment that is associated with reduced functional ability and health -related quality of life both in the short and long-term.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NEMS) has been proposed as an alternative exercise modality in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure, who cannot perform active exercise. NEMS has also been used as a preventive tool for intensive care unit (ICU) acquired weakness (ICUAW). Its role as a tool for post ICU rehabilitation has not been evaluated so far.

A randomized intervention study was designed to assess the efficacy of NEMS, as a rehabilitative tool for critical illness survivors. The first day that patients are discharged from the ICU after stratified randomization are assigned to the NEMS group or to the control group. In the NEMS group, NEMS will be applied to both lower extremities of the NEMS -group simultaneously (quadriceps femoris muscle and peroneus longus) on a daily basis, along with a personalized exercise program. NEMS sessions will continue until patient discharge from hospital. In the control group, sham NEMS will be applied along with standard care when it comes to physiotherapy. At hospital discharge patients of both groups of will receive a rehabilitation booklet. Patients on the NEMS group that have significant muscle weakness will have NEMS sessions at home for a period of 2 months. Patients are evaluated at 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Critical Illness

• NCT number: NCT01717833
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Athens
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: November 2010
• Completion date: December 2015