Randomized, Controlled Study to Investigate the Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on Muscle Metabolism of Abdominal Surgical Patients

The Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Metabolism of Major Abdominal Surgical Patients

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00635440

Enrollment

Registered

2008-03-13

Start date

2005-12-31

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2008-03-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Muscular Atrophy

Keywords

skeletal muscle, ubiquitin, proteasome, IGF-1, MGF, protein catabolism, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Investigate effect of NMES on muscle metabolism of catabolic patients

Brief summary

Skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with catabolic conditions such as major surgical interventions and leads to reduced muscle strength, increased clinical complications and prolonged convalescence. Several studies revealed immobilisation as a major stimulus for muscle wasting in severely ill patients. This study investigates the potency of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on skeletal muscle growth factors and degradation processes in major abdominal surgery patients.

Interventions

DEVICEneuromuscular electrical stimulation: Cefar-Sport (CefarCompex Scandinavia AB)

Electrical stimuli of 50 Hz (pulse width 0.25ms, 8 sec on, 4 sec off) were applied daily for 30 min, for 4 days, starting on the first postoperative day.The amplitude of the electrical stimuli in the stimulated leg was adjusted to ensure maximum tolerable muscle contraction.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* intended for major abdominal surgery * more than 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

* neuromuscular diseases * immobility before surgery * arterial occlusive disease Fontaine stadium IV * clinical or laboratory signs of inflammation or sepsis * cachexia * diseases of the musculoskeletal systems contraindicating electrical stimulation

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
mRNA level of IGF-1Ea	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
mRNA level of MGF, total RNA content, total protein content, ubiquitin conjugated proteins, proteasome activity	—

Countries

Austria

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 3, 2026