Effect of All-Stim 2 Quadriceps Treatments on Limb Muscle Strength In Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Overview

Patients that are on mechanical ventilators in medical intensive care units (MICU) have extremely weak leg muscles. Currently there is no treatment to prevent or reverse this weakness. Treatments with a thigh muscle stimulator, called an All Stim 2, can improve leg muscle strength and help patients regain leg function after knee surgery. The purpose of the present study is to determine if treatments with the All Stim 2 device can also improve leg muscle strength in patients on mechanical ventilation.

The objective for this study is to determine if daily exercise using All-Stim 2 stimulation of quadriceps muscles will increase leg strength and improve outcomes (duration of hospitalization, long term mobility, long term disability) for mechanically ventilated MICU patients. The investigators plan to randomize patients accepted into this protocol to administration of either sham exercise (i.e. placement of All-Stim 2 units on the legs for 30 minutes a day without activation of the electrical stimulation program) or active exercise (placement of All-Stim 2 electrodes on both legs and stimulating quadriceps muscles to rhythmically contract for 30 minutes a day). The two groups (sham and active exercise) will be treated for 30 minutes a day for seven days. The effects of exercise on quadriceps strength will be assessed by measuring quadriceps force generation (QuadTw) in response to magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerves. The QuadTw assessment will be made immediately before institution of sham or active exercise and will repeated one day after the conclusion of the seven day training regimen. Chart review and patient follow-up will be used to determine if this treatment regimen also has an impact on clinical outcome measures, i.e. duration of hospitalization.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes