Rehabilitation of Patients With COPD Using Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Date de début de l'étude : 1 décembre 2008

Inclusion Criteria: Pulmonary function test criteria consistent with a diagnosis of COPD including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) < 65% of predicted, with FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio < 70%, lung hyperinflation based on a residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC) ratio > 120% predicted and reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO <70% predicted). Self-reported exercise limitation despite pharmacologic treatment. Otherwise medically stable. Women and minorities will also be recruited. Only persons able to give fully informed consent will be enrolled in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Patients will be excluded from study participation if they have a history of uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (including ventricular arrhythmia, myocardial infarction within 1 year, unstable angina, cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electrical device, other uncontrolled arrhythmias, or unstable blood pressure), neuromuscular disease (including stroke), debilitating joint disease or amputations that precludes exercise or have other contraindications to participating in outpatient PR (including unstable bone fracture, syncope of unclear etiology or cancer undergoing active chemotherapy), or are pregnant. Persons with a history of seizure disorder, intracranial clips or skin problems that would prevent safe or proper placement of the electrodes needed for electrical stimulation of the leg muscles will be excluded, based on prior clinical studies of TCEMS in non-COPD populations. Patients will also be excluded from study participation if they have undergone formal PR within 1 year of the date of study inclusion. No patients will be recruited from a "vulnerable patient population", including economically or educationally disadvantaged or mentally disabled persons, children, or prisoners.