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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Ms
Sarah
Jones
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
This information is provided directly by researchers and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the lungs that results in narrowing of the airways. Although mainly a disease of the lungs, research has shown that the leg muscles in patients with COPD are weaker than those in healthy people of a similar age. Leg muscle weakness in COPD has been shown to reduce exercise ability, which can affect independence and quality of life. Currently the only effective treatment at reversing muscle weakness in patients with COPD is through Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR). PR is a supervised programme that consists of exercise training and education and has been shown to improve exercise capacity and quality of life; however the effects of PR on muscle strength are modest. In patients who have muscle weakness, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may offer a means of enhancing muscle strength. NMES uses a small battery-operated machine and pads, which are placed over each thigh to produce a comfortable stimulation of the underlying muscles. Several small research studies have shown that using NMES in patients with COPD has improved leg muscle strength. However, there is very little data examining the role of NMES in enhancing the benefits of PR. Therefore we want to examine whether NMES of the thigh muscle in addition to PR can increase leg muscle strength and function more than PR alone in people with COPD. Therefore the aim of this study is to examine whether NMES of the thigh muscle in addition to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme can increase leg muscle strength and function more than pulmonary rehabilitation alone in people with COPD.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
You can take part if:
You may not be able to take part if:
1. Any condition that precludes providing informed consent e.g. cognitive impairment or inadequate English2. Participation in an exclusively home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme3. Predominant neuromuscular or joint limitation to walking or cycling4. Co-existing progressive neurological or neuromuscular condition5. Contraindication for unsupervised use of NMES including pregnancy, implanted cardiac pacemaker, skin abrasion, metallic lower limb prosthesis6. Formal supervised pulmonary rehabilitation in the preceding six months7. Unstable cardiac conditions including unstable angina, unstable congestive heart failure, severe aortic stenosis, suspected aortic aneurysm8. Active or suspected thromboembolic disease including recent pulmonary embolism9. An acute exacerbation requiring antibiotics within the preceding four weeks
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
Ms
Sarah
Jones
The study is sponsored by Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and funded by National Institute for Health Research.
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
Or CPMS 36500
You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.
