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Efficacy of neuromuscular electrostimulation intervention to improve physical function in haemodialysis patients

  • Nephrology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Background

Haemodialysis (HD) patients are characterised by muscle wasting, decreased physical function and poor quality of life. The objective was to analyse the effect of an intradialysis NMES training programme in muscular strength, functional capacity and quality of life in our HD patients.

Material

HD patients were assigned to NMES (ESG) or control group (CG) in a 12-week single-centre prospective study. Transversal quadriceps muscular area, maximum length quadriceps strength (MLQS), handgrip, sit-to-stand-to-sit 10 test (STS10), “6-min walking test” (6MWT); EuroQol-5D health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) questionnaire, subjective global assessment (SGA) and NMES symptoms questionnaires (SQ) were completed.

Results

Thirty-eight patients (54 % men). Mean age 69.7 years. 32.1 months on HD, 23 ESG and 15 in CG. In contrast with CG, ESG significantly (*p < 0.05) improved MLQS* (10.2 6.7 vs. 13.1 8.1 kg), STS10* (41 18.7 vs. 37.2 23.9 s), 6MWT* (12 %, 280.5 vs. 312.4 m) and EQ-5D score* (52.7 vs. 65.5) at the end of the study. However, lower SQ score* (8.5 vs. 5.8 sympt./patient) in ESG was observed, mainly due to muscular pain* (2.2 vs. 1.2), cramps* (1.6 vs. 1.2), numbness* (1.7 vs. 1.1) or stinging* (1.5 vs. 1.1). In ESG, 44 and 72 % referred better wellness sensation and physical condition in SGA, respectively.

Conclusions

Intradialytic NMES of both quadriceps improved muscular strength, functional capacity and quality of life in our HD patients. With the obtained results, NMES constitutes a novel therapeutic alternative to improve the deteriorated physical condition and quality of life of these patients.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the patients and nursing staff for their invaluable collaboration in this study. The present study was carried out within the framework of the Doctorate in Medicine Programme of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nephrology Department, Hospital de Terrassa, Consorci Sanitari Terrassa (Barcelona), Crta Torrebonica s/n, 08227, Terrassa, Spain

    Vicent Esteve Simó, Anna Junque Jiménez, José Carneiro Oliveira, Fátima Moreno Guzmán, Miquel Fulquet Nicolás, Mónica Pou Potau, Anna Saurina Solé, Verónica Duarte Gallego, Irati Tapia González & Manel Ramírez de Arellano Serna

  2. Medicine Department, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain

    Vicent Esteve Simó

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  1. Vicent Esteve Simó
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Correspondence to Vicent Esteve Simó.

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Simó, V.E., Jiménez, A.J., Oliveira, J.C. et al. Efficacy of neuromuscular electrostimulation intervention to improve physical function in haemodialysis patients. Int Urol Nephrol 47, 1709–1717 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-015-1072-3

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