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Respiratory Muscle Training in the ICU: IMT vs Diaphragmatic NMES

NCT07571642 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 32

Last updated 2026-05-06

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study aimed to compare the effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) and Diaphragmatic Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on inspiratory muscle strength, mechanical ventilator parameters, and functional levels in intubated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Thirty-two intubated patients were divided into two groups: the IMT group and the NMES group. In the IMT group, IMT was administered twice a day in addition to routine physiotherapy. In the NMES group, electrical stimulation was applied to the diaphragm muscle for 40 minutes in addition to routine physiotherapy. The primary outcomes of the study are inspiratory muscle strength and physical function level. The secondary outcomes are mechanical ventilator parameters, extubation time, and length of hospital stay.

Conditions

  • Intubated ICU Patients

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Diaphragmatic Neuromuscular Electric Stimulation (NMES)

Routine ICU physiotherapy includes: conventional chest physiotherapy, consisting of diaphragmatic breathing, thoracic expansion exercises, postural drainage, cough training, and in-bed ROM exercises and mobilization. In addition to routine ICU physiotherapy, patients received NMES on the diaphragm with surface electrodes. Electrodes were placed at four channels with two electrodes on both sides of the xiphoid at the level of the intercostal space of the 7th and 8th ribs, superiorly and inferiorly. In addition, two electrodes with two channels were placed superiorly and inferiorly at the midaxillary level of the intercostal space of the 7th and 8th ribs. A total of 4 channels and 8 electrodes were used with modified burst series biphasic current 30 Hz (Aussie current).

PROCEDURE

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT)

Routine ICU physiotherapy includes: conventional chest physiotherapy, consisting of diaphragmatic breathing, thoracic expansion exercises, postural drainage, cough training, and in-bed ROM exercises and mobilization. In addition to routine ICU physiotherapy, patients received IMT twice daily with Threshold IMT devices (Respironics, New Jersey, Inc., NJ, USA). The IMT program started at 30% of pretreatment Pimax and was increased by 2H2O daily according to patients' tolerance. A total of 3 sets of 8 repetitions were applied.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Ali Yalman

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-03-05
Primary Completion
2021-10-20
Completion
2021-11-23

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07571642 on ClinicalTrials.gov