• Maurice J H Sillen, Frits M E Franssen, Jeannet M L Delbressine, Anouk W Vaes, Emiel F M Wouters, and Martijn A Spruit.
• Department of Research & Education, CIRO+, Centre of Expertise for Chronic Organ Failure, Horn, The Netherlands.
• Thorax. 2014 Jun 1; 69 (6): 525-31.

RationaleStrength training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) improve lower-limb muscle function in dyspnoeic individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, high-frequency NMES (HF-NMES) and strength training have never been compared head-to-head; and effects of low-frequency NMES (LF-NMES) have never been studied in COPD. Therefore, the optimal training modality to improve lower-limb muscle function, exercise performance and other patient-related outcomes in individuals with severe COPD remains unknown.ObjectivesTo study prospectively the efficacy of HF-NMES (75 Hz), LF-NMES (15 Hz) or strength training in severely dyspnoeic individuals with COPD with quadriceps muscle weakness at baseline.Methods120 individuals with COPD (FEV1: 33±1% predicted, men: 52%, age: 64.8±0.8 years) were randomised to HF-NMES, LF-NMES or strength training as part of a comprehensive inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme. No treadmill walking or stationary cycling was provided.Measurements And Main ResultsGroups were comparable at baseline. Quadriceps muscle strength increased after HF-NMES (+10.8 Newton-metre (Nm)) or strength training (+6.1 Nm; both p<0.01), but not after LF-NMES (+1.4 Nm; p=0.43). Quadriceps muscle endurance, exercise performance, lower-limb fat-free mass, exercise-induced symptoms of dyspnoea and fatigue improved significantly compared with baseline after HF-NMES, LF-NMES or strength training. The increase in quadriceps muscle strength and muscle endurance was greater after HF-NMES than after LF-NMES.ConclusionsHF-NMES is equally effective as strength training in severely dyspnoeic individuals with COPD and muscle weakness in strengthening the quadriceps muscles and thus may be a good alternative in this particular group of patients. HF-NMES, LF-NMES and strength training were effective in improving exercise performance in severely dyspnoeic individuals with COPD and quadriceps weakness.Trial RegistrationNTR2322.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

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