title: Acute Feasibility of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Severely Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Objective. Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are closely interconnected conditions both leading to high cardiovascular risk. Inactivity is frequent and physical activity programs remain difficult in these patients. We investigated the acute feasibility of two neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) modalities in extremely inactive obese patients with OSA.Design. A randomized cross-over study, with two experimental sessions (one per condition: multipath NMES versus conventional NMES).Setting. Outpatient research hospital.Subjects. Twelve patients with obesity, already treated for OSA.Interventions. No intervention.Measures. Feasibility outcomes included NMES current intensity, knee extension force evoked by NMES, and self-reported discomfort.Results. We found higher current intensity, a trend to significantly higher evoked force and lower discomfort during multipath NMES versus conventional NMES, suggesting better tolerance to the former NMES modality. However, patients were rapidly limited in the potential of increasing current intensity of multipath NMES.Conclusion. Both NMES modalities were feasible and relatively well tolerated by obese patients with OSA, even if multipath NMES showed a better muscle response/discomfort ratio than conventional NMES. There is an urgent need for a proof-of-concept study and interventional randomized controlled trials comparing NMES therapy versus current care to justify its utilization in obese and apneic patients with low physical activity levels.
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, HP2 Laboratory, Inserm U1042, Grenoble University Hospital, CS 20217, 38045 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5201-8603
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vivodtzev
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Lab, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Lengghalde 2, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicola A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maffiuletti
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, HP2 Laboratory, Inserm U1042, Grenoble University Hospital, CS 20217, 38045 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, HP2 Laboratory, Inserm U1042, Grenoble University Hospital, CS 20217, 38045 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Angélique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grangier
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, HP2 Laboratory, Inserm U1042, Grenoble University Hospital, CS 20217, 38045 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wuyam
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, HP2 Laboratory, Inserm U1042, Grenoble University Hospital, CS 20217, 38045 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1128-6529
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamisier
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, HP2 Laboratory, Inserm U1042, Grenoble University Hospital, CS 20217, 38045 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pépin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy