The impact of neuromuscular electric stimulation versus aerobic exercise in rehabilitation of patients with chronic heart failure

Abstract EN

Background / Aim Heart failure can be defined as an abnormality of cardiac structure or function leading to failure of the heart to deliver oxygen at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolizing tissues, despite normal filling pressures.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs have become an integral part of the standard of care in modern cardiology.

The current study was carried out to determine the effect of neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES) versus aerobic exercise in cases of chronic heart failure.

Patients and methods Overall, 30 patients with chronic heart failure were included in this study from Cairo University Hospitals.

Their ages ranged from 40 to 60 years and they were divided randomly into two groups (A and B).

Group A received aerobic training.

Group B received lower limb NMES for 2 months.

All participants were evaluated before the first session of treatment and at the end of treatment by physical evaluation that included minute ventilation, maximum ventilation, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and the 6-min walk test.

Results Analysis of results showed a significant increase in minute ventilation and maximum voluntary ventilation in both groups (P ≤ 0.001) and no significant difference between both groups, 7.3 ± 0.6 and 7.4 ± 0.6.

There was a significant decrease in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in group A (P ≤ 0.001) and also a significant decrease in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in group B (P ≤ 0.001).

There was a significant difference between group A and group B in the decrease in heart rate, 131.1 ± 9.9 and 134.5 ± 9.6, respectively, systolic blood pressure, 121.3 ± 7.4 and 139.3 ± 24.9, respectively, diastolic blood pressure, 80.3 ± 3.5 and 84.7 ± 3.1, and 6 min walk, 33.9 ± 2.6 and 32.2 ± 8.1.

Conclusion NMES can be used instead of aerobic exercise in cardiac rehabilitation, especially in critically ill patients.

It exerts an effect similar to that of aerobic exercise without cardiac load, especially in the beginning of rehabilitation.