Does Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Benefit the Functional Ability of Elderly Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

Background: Patients with COPD often experience skeletal muscle dysfunction. For those who are unable or unwilling to undertake physical training, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may provide an alternative method of exercise training. Objective: To investigate the effects of adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation of gluteus maximus, quadriceps and calf muscles to chest physiotherapy, compared to chest physiotherapy alone, on muscles strength (gluteus max., quadriceps, calf muscles), femoral blood flow physical and pulmonary function in severe COPD Patients.

Material and methods: This study include a group of 60 patients (30 males and 30 females) diagnosed with severe COPD), their age is ranged 65-75 years, they will be randomly divided into two groups; study group (A) 30 patients and study group (B) 30 patients. Study group (A): The patients in this group will receive the chest physiotherapy program for 20 min each day, for five days a week for three consecutive weeks. Study group (B): The patients in this group will receive the same chest physiotherapy program combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation of gluteus max., quadriceps, calf muscles, performed for 30 min /day for five days a week for three consecutive weeks. Femoral blood Flow, gluteus maximus, quadriceps and calf muscles strength and pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC) will be measured for both groups pre and post treatment.