Efficacy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation vs. High Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Emphasizing Lower Limb Muscle Training in Severe COPD Patients

Background: COPD is the most common chronic lung diseases and are major causes of lung related death and disability. Exercise training a core component of PR improves exercise capacity of patients with COPD although there are irreversible abnormalities in lung function. HF-NMES was successfully used as a localized training modality in severely disabled patients. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of PR vs. HF-NMES emphasizing lower limb muscle training to improve the efficiency of 5 STS time and 6MWD in severe COPD patients. Methods: The study population consisted of 45 patients diagnosed as severe COPD based on GOLD guidelines. 6 MWT distance and other parameters were measured at baseline and at 4th week, 8th week and 12th weeks of training programme. One way ANOVA was used to evaluate the association between 6MWD, 5STS time and CCQ score. Results: Lower Limb Muscle Training Modalities (HF-NMES) improved exercise performance significantly, while it is known that the load on the cardiorespiratory system is rather low. Mean improvements in six minute walk distance exceeded in the HF-NMES group. Conclusion: There is significant improvement in 5 STS time and 6 MWT distance following 12 weeks of lower limb muscle training in PR program and in HF-NMES for severe COPD patients.