Post-operative electrical muscle stimulation attenuates loss of muscle mass and function following major abdominal surgery in older adults: a split body randomised control trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Significant losses of muscle mass and function occur after major abdominal surgery. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been shown to reduce muscle atrophy in some patient groups, but evidence in post-operative patients is limited. This study assesses the efficacy of NMES for attenuating muscle atrophy and functional declines following major abdominal surgery in older adults.

Methods

Fifteen patients undergoing open colorectal resection completed a split body randomised control trial. Patients' lower limbs were randomised to control (CON) or NMES (STIM). The STIM limb underwent 15 minutes of quadriceps NMES twice daily on post-operative days (PODs) 1-4. Ultrasound measurements of Vastus Lateralis cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle thickness (MT) w

SUBMITTER: Hardy EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9621149 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature