Muscle training with repetitive magnetic stimulation of the quadriceps in severe COPD patients

SummaryBackgroundPrevious studies have used electrical neuromuscular stimulation as a physical training method in patients with severe COPD. We introduce the use of the more tolerable magnetic stimulation for the same purpose, investigating the effectiveness of an eight-week protocol.MethodsEighteen patients with severe COPD were randomly assigned to a magnetic stimulation training protocol, n = 10, FEV1 = 30% (SD: 7) or to parallel clinical monitoring, control group, n = 8, FEV1 = 35% (SD: 8). During eight weeks, patients were stimulated for 15 min on each quadriceps femoris, three times per week. Quadriceps muscle strength and endurance measurements, quality-of-life questionnaires (SF36, SGRQ) and a six-minute walking test were all carried out before and after the training period in the stimulated and control subjects.ResultsAll patients completed the training with increasing intensity of stimulation, displaying a significant improvement in voluntary quadriceps strength (17.5% of the baseline value) and exercise capacity, with a mean increase of 23 m in the six-minute walking test. The questionnaire scores showed greater increases in quality-of-life scores in the trained subjects compared to the controls, particularly in the physical function areas: mean increments in SF36 in “physical function”: +26, “role limitations due to physical problems”: +40 and “vitality”: +17.5, while +13, −4 and +1, respectively in controls. Saint George's “Activity” score improved by 19.6 points, for 11.5 in controls.ConclusionsIn COPD patients who are limited due to dyspnoea, magnetic neuromuscular stimulation of the quadriceps constitutes a feasible training method for the lower limbs, with positive effects on the muscle function, effort capacity and perception areas.