Effects of neuromuscular electrostimulation in patients with heart failure admitted to ward

• Main Authors: de Araújo Carlos José Soares, Gonçalves Fernanda Souza, Bittencourt Hugo Souza, dos Santos Noélia Gonçalves, Junior Sérgio Vitor Mecca, Neves Júlio Leal Bandeira, Fernandes André Maurício Souza, Junior Roque Aras, dos Reis FranciscoJoséFariasBorges, Guimarães Armênio Costa, Junior ErenaldodeSouzaRodrigues, Carvalho Vitor Oliveira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-11-01
• Series: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Subjects: Heart failure; Exercise; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation; Neuromuscular electrostimulation
• Online Access: http://www.cardiothoracicsurgery.org/content/7/1/124

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neuromuscular electrostimulation has become a promising issue in cardiovascular rehabilitation. However there are few articles published in the literature regarding neuromuscular electrostimulation in patients with heart failure during hospital stay.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a randomized controlled pilot trial that aimed to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrostimulation in the walked distance by the six-minute walking test in 30 patients admitted to ward for heart failure treatment in a tertiary cardiology hospital. Patients in the intervention group performed a conventional rehabilitation and neuromuscular electrostimulation. Patients underwent 60 minutes of electrostimulation (wave frequency was 20 Hz, pulse duration of 20 us) two times a day for consecutive days until hospital discharge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The walked distance in the six-minute walking test improved 75% in the electrostimulation group (from 379.7 ± 43.5 to 372.9 ± 46.9 meters to controls and from 372.9 ± 62.4 to 500 ± 68 meters to electrostimulation, p<0.001). On the other hand, the walked distance in the control group did not change.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The neuromuscular electrostimulation group showed greater improvement in the walked distance in the six-minute walking test in patients admitted to ward for compensation of heart failure.</p>