title: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation as an adjunct to endurance and resistance training during pulmonary rehabilitation in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (cPR) program would have additive effects on clinical-functional outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients participating in a 10-week cPR program were randomly allocated to NMES + cPR (n = 13) or Sham + cPR (n = 14) groups. Quadriceps strength, exercise capacity, symptoms, mood, activities of daily living and quality of life were evaluated pre- and post-interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in any of the physiological and subjective improvements induced by NMES + cPR versus Sham + cPR (p > 0.05). In fact, the NMES + cPR group showed lower increases in incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) distance (38.4 vs 69.2 m, respectively) and %ISWT distance (5.1 vs 9%, respectively) compared with the Sham + cPR group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in exercise capacity is less important when NMES is used as an adjunct to the cPR.
authors.affiliation: Atatürk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Division of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Home Care, 06280 Kecioren, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tasdemir
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inal-Ince
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ergun
authors.forename: Dicle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaymaz
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egesel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; exercise capacity; exercise training; function; neuromuscular electrical stimulation