Investigating the effect of bilateral quadriceps NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on exercise capacity in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN15985261 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15985261 |
| Protocol serial number | 12017 |
| Sponsor | King College Hospital (UK) |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) - Doctoral Research Fellowship |
- Submission date
- 31/05/2012
- Registration date
- 31/05/2012
- Last edited
- 01/12/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Respiratory
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience a reduced ability to exercise, which affects their independence and quality of life. Several factors contribute to this including leg muscle weakness. Exercise can help but even simple forms, e.g. walking, can be difficult when out of breath. An alternative is neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) which uses a small battery-operated stimulator and pads placed over each thigh to produce a comfortable contraction and relaxation of the underlying muscles. Several small studies have found 4−6 week programmes to benefit patients but larger studies are required to confirm these findings.
Who can participate?
People diagnosed with COPD, attending clinics at the Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust may be invited to take part by their usual clinical team.
What does the study involve?
In this study 52 people with severe COPD will be allocated to receive either active or sham (dummy) NMES to the thigh muscles. Both programmes will consist of 30 minutes of daily stimulation for 6 weeks, but the level will be set to either allow muscle contraction (active) or provide sensation only (dummy). Before and after the programme participants ability to exercise, thigh muscle strength and size, physical activity level and quality of life will be assessed.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We hope that using NMES will help keep participants leg muscles strong and the information we get from this study should help us provide better care for people with COPD and will help confirm if NMES can benefit people with COPD unable to complete traditional forms of exercise. If successful, this may help this group maintain their independence for longer. It is however possible some participants will not gain any benefits from using NMES. NMES has been used in a wide range of medical conditions and there should be no serious side effects. People sometimes feel slight muscle soreness after first using NMES because it is a form of exercise, but this generally settles after a day or two.
Where is the study run from?
The study will run from Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study start in June 2012 and run approximately two years.
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Matthew Maddocks
matthew.maddocks@kcl.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Cicely Saunders Institute
Bessemer Road
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9PJ
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 207 848 5242 |
|---|---|
| matthew.maddocks@kcl.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A randomised placebo-controlled trial investigating the effect of bilateral quadriceps NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on exercise capacity in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Study acronym | NMES |
| Study objectives | People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience a reduced ability to exercise, which affects their independence and quality of life. Several factors contribute to this including leg muscle weakness. Exercise can help but even simple forms, e.g. walking, can be difficult when out of breath. An alternative is neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) which uses a small battery-operated stimulator and pads placed over each thigh to produce a comfortable contraction and relaxation of the underlying muscles. Several small studies have found 4-6 week programmes to benefit patients but larger studies are required to confirm these findings. Fifty-two people with severe COPD will be allocated to receive either active or sham NMES to the thigh muscles. Both programmes will consist of 30 minutes of daily stimulation for 6 weeks, but the level will be set to either allow muscle contraction (active) or provide sensation only (placebo). Before and after the programme participants ability to exercise, thigh muscle strength and size, physical activity level and quality of life will be assessed. Findings will confirm if NMES can benefit people with COPD unable to complete traditional forms of exercise. If successful, this may help this group maintain their independence for longer. |
| Ethics approval(s) | London Camberwell St Giles NRES Committee, ref:12/LO/0263 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Intervention | Active, NMES to the quadriceps for 30min daily for 6 weeks (frequency 50Hz, pulse width 350µs, duty cycle 11-50%, amplitude 0-120mA over 1000O). The proportion of the treatment duration which is active, i.e. the stimulation phase of the duty cycle, will increase on a weekly basis from 11% to 25% to 50%, remaining constant thereafter. Control, Placebo NMES to the quadriceps for 30min daily for 6 weeks using levels of stimulation detectable by the patient but not able to elicit a tetanic muscle contraction (frequency 50Hz, pulse width 350µs, duty cycle 11-50%, amplitude 0-20mA). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Six-minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Quadriceps function and size; assessed by quadriceps maximum voluntary contraction and twitch with femoral nerve stimulation, time for twitch to decline to 70% of maximum with repetitive transcutaneous stimulation, rectus femoris cross sectional area with ultrasonography and fat free mass by bioimpedence (kg). |
| Completion date | 17/05/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 52 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. >=18 years of age 2. Diagnosis of COPD [ forced expiratory volume in the first one second to the forced vital capacity of the lungs (FEV1: FVC ratio <=70%)] 3. Severe respiratory impairment (GOLD stage III/IV; FEV1 <=50% predicted) 4. Incapacitating breathlessness (MRC dyspnoea score 4/5) 5. Able to provide written informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Cardiac pacemaker 2. Co-existing neurological condition 3. Change in medication or exacerbation requiring admission in preceding 4 weeks 4. Recent systemic corticosteroids (>=5 consecutive days in last 4 weeks) 5. Current regular exerciser (structured training >=3 times/week within last month) 6. Adults unable to consent for themselves |
| Date of first enrolment | 17/05/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 17/05/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
SE5 9PJ
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/01/2016 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
01/12/2016: Publication reference added.
