Info@NeuroCareUSA.com 918-359-3549

$45 Neuropathy Relief Package (reg. $450) > SCHEDULE NOW < Click Here to
$45 Neuropathy Relief Package (reg. $450) > SCHEDULE NOW < Click Here to
$45 Neuropathy Relief Package (reg. $450) > SCHEDULE NOW < Click Here to
$45 Neuropathy Relief Package (reg. $450) > SCHEDULE NOW < Click Here to

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critically ill traumatic brain injury patients attenuates muscle atrophy, neurophysiological disorders, and weakness: a randomized controlled trial

  • Home
  • Blogs
  • Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critically ill traumatic brain injury patients attenuates muscle atrophy, neurophysiological disorders, and weakness: a randomized controlled trial

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critically ill traumatic brain injury patients attenuates muscle atrophy, neurophysiological disorders, and weakness: a randomized controlled trial

J Intensive Care
2019 Dec 12:7:59. doi: 10.1186/s40560-019-0417-x.
eCollection 2019.
Author
Paulo Eugênio Silva , Rita de Cássia Marqueti , Karina Livino-de-Carvalho , Amaro Eduardo Tavares de Araujo , Joana Castro , Vinicius Maldaner da Silva , Luciana Vieira , Vinicius Carolino Souza , Lucas Ogura Dantas , Gerson Cipriano Jr , Otávio Tolêdo Nóbrega , Nicolas Babault , Joao Luiz Quagliotti Durigan
Affiliations

1Health Sciences and Technologies PhD Program, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF Brazil.

2Physical Therapy Division, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, DF Brazil.

3Rehabilitation Science Program, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF Brazil.

4Physical Therapy Division, Hospital Regional de Santa Maria, Brasilia, DF Brazil.

5Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Brasilia, Brasília, DF Brazil.

6Clinical Research Center Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasilia, DF Brazil.

7Science Health Program, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF Brazil.

8Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP Brazil.

9Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec Canada.

10INSERM-U1093 Cognition Actionet Plasticité Senorimotrice, UFR STAPS, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.

PMID: 31890221 PMCID: PMC6909464 DOI: 10.1186/s40560-019-0417-x
Abstract
Background
Critically ill traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients experience extensive muscle damage during their stay in the intensive care unit. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been considered a promising treatment to reduce the functional and clinical impacts of this. However, the time needed for NMES to produce effects over the muscles is still unclear. This study primarily aimed to assess the time needed and effects of an NMES protocol on muscle architecture, neuromuscular electrophysiological disorder (NED), and muscle strength, and secondarily, to evaluate the effects on plasma systemic inflammation, catabolic responses, and clinical outcomes.
Methods
We performed a randomized clinical trial in critically ill TBI patients. The control group received only conventional physiotherapy, while the NMES group additionally underwent daily NMES for 14 days in the lower limb muscles. Participants were assessed at baseline and on days 3, 7, and 14 of their stay in the intensive care unit. The primary outcomes were assessed with muscle ultrasound, neuromuscular electrophysiology, and evoked peak force, and the secondary outcomes with plasma cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and clinical outcomes.
Results
Sixty participants were randomized, and twenty completed the trial from each group. After 14 days, the control group presented a significant reduction in muscle thickness of tibialis anterior and rectus femoris, mean of – 0.33 mm (- 14%) and – 0.49 mm (- 21%), p < 0.0001, respectively, while muscle thickness was preserved in the NMES group. The control group presented a higher incidence of NED: 47% vs. 0% in the NMES group, p < 0.0001, risk ratio of 16, and the NMES group demonstrated an increase in the evoked peak force (2.34 kg/f, p < 0.0001), in contrast to the control group (- 1.55 kg/f, p < 0.0001). The time needed for the NMES protocol to prevent muscle architecture disorders and treat weakness was at least 7 days, and 14 days to treat NED. The secondary outcomes exhibited less precise results, with confidence intervals that spanned worthwhile or trivial effects.
Conclusions
NMES applied daily for fourteen consecutive days reduced muscle atrophy, the incidence of NED, and muscle weakness in critically ill TBI patients. At least 7 days of NMES were required to elicit the first significant results.
Trial registration
The trial was registered at ensaiosclinicos.gov.br under protocol RBR-8kdrbz on 17 January 2016.
Keywords:
Critical care; Electrical stimulation therapy; Muscle weakness; Muscular atrophy; Neuromuscular diseases; Traumatic brain injury.

© The Author(s). 2019.

Click here for full article.

Integrative non-surgical neuromusculoskeletal care. Natural, effective pain solutions to help you restore to your peak performance. It’s time to take your life back and we’re here to help!

© 2024-2026 Neuro Care USA Nerve & Joint Centers.

TERMS & CONDITIONS | PRIVACY POLICY

Our website is for education and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for medical advice.  Articles on this website are provided for informational purposes only and Neuro Care USA Nerve & Joint Centers nor any of its affiliates make no claims of any guaranteed or proven therapeutic benefits or cures. Neuro Care USA Nerve & Joint Centers does not represent any device or device company. Neuro Care USA Nerve & Joint Centers is an independent company and the information on the website does not represent the voice or opinion of any device or device company nor the voice or opinion of any Provider. Providers are independent companies and do not represent the voice or opinion of Neuro Care USA Nerve & Joint Centers.  FTC 16 CFR Part 255 Compliance Statement: Results not typical. Any case studies, results, endorsements, or testimonials presented on this page reflect the personal experience and opinions of the individual patient and do not prove our treatment works. Therefore, you should not expect to have similar results, because every patient’s situation is unique.