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Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in Patients With Intermittent Claudication

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Intermittent Claudication

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02436200
Acronym
IC
Enrollment
21
Registered
2015-05-06
Start date
2014-12-31
Completion date
2015-10-31
Last updated
2020-09-29

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

Conditions

Intermittent Claudication, Peripheral Vascular Disease

Keywords

Intermittent Claudication, IC, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

Brief summary

This study will assess the benefit of a neuromuscular electrical stimulation device in patients suffering from symptoms and effects of lower limb intermittent claudication.

Detailed description

The circulation of blood around the body is dependent on effective pumping of the heart. Patients with claudication experience pain or discomfort in their legs usually during activity such as walking, which goes away at rest. Claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). If left untreated, patients can develop arterial insufficiency which can lead to various complications such as swelling, painful legs, reduced healing of injuries and the loss of limbs in extreme conditions. PAD can be defined as a narrowing of the arteries reducing blood flow. It is most commonly due to atherosclerosis, and has associations with heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Its incidence is estimated at 7-14% in the general population, increasing with age to about 20% in the over-seventies. It is associated with effects on mobility, skin condition and quality of life. Symptoms include pain in the legs on walking (intermittent claudication), pain at rest (particularly at night), gangrene, and limb loss. Management of PAD is based on encouraging exercise, and modification of risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In patients with PAD, exercise tolerance is often limited. Severe symptoms and disease can be treated by procedures such as balloon angioplasty, stenting or surgical bypass, but these procedures have risks. There also remains a percentage of patients who are not suitable for revascularisation, and have few options besides amputation available to them. Some trials have shown that increasing the blood flow in the legs over time using medical devices (intermittent pneumatic compression, muscle stimulators), in addition to maximal medical and surgical therapy, can increase claudication distance, absolute walking distance, decrease rest pain, and reduce amputation rates. In our unit it has become apparent that there are an increasing number of medical devices available for circulatory support, either for use as an inpatient, out-patient, or a member of the general public. The supporting evidence for these is variable in scientific and clinical content or relevance, and requires clinical trials to evaluate further. The device being used in this study, activates the pumping action of the leg muscles by providing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to cause foot muscle contraction and relaxation. This squeezes blood back towards the heart, improving circulation. The study will evaluate whether NMES using this device has the same beneficial effects in patients with intermittent claudication.

Interventions

DEVICENeuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Revitive IX neuromuscular electrical stimulation device will be given to all participants as per protocol.

Sponsors

Imperial College London
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* All ethnic groups, male or female above the age of 18 years. * Diagnosis of mild intermittent claudication * Be of non-childbearing potential; OR using adequate contraception and have a negative urine pregnancy test result within 24 hours if appropriate before using the study device. * Blood pressure currently under moderate control (\< 160/100mmHg) * No current foot ulceration

Exclusion criteria

* Patients meeting any of the following criteria are to be excluded: * Has an unstable condition (eg, psychiatric disorder, a recent history of substance abuse) or otherwise thought to be unreliable or incapable of complying with the study protocol. * Has diabetes * Ankle Brachial Pressure Index \> 0.9 * Has any metal implants * Pregnant * Has a cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator device * Has recent lower limb injury or lower back pain * Has current foot ulceration or other skin ulcers * Has foot deformities * Has any disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with the conduct of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change From Baseline in Initial Walking DistanceBaseline, 6 weeksInitial walking distance measured by treadmill For the initial claudication distance measurement, a fixed load treadmill test will be carried out at 3.5 km/h with a 10% gradient. The initial claudication distance (ICD) is the distance walked until the onset of pain.
Absolute Walking Distance Measured by TreadmillChange in baseline treadmill walking distance at 6 weeksFor the absolute claudication distance measurement, a fixed load treadmill test will be carried out at 3.5 km/h with a 10% gradient. The absolute claudication distance (ACD) is the distance walked before the participant is forced to stop due to typical pain.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Symptomatic Scores by QuestionnaireChange in baseline questionnaire scores at 6 weeksValidated questionnaires including the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire and Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire will be obtained at baseline and week 6.
Quality of Life Scores Measured by QuestionnaireChange in baseline quality of life at 6 weeksValidated questionnaires including the Euro-Quol 5D and Short Form 36 will be measured at baseline and 6 weeks.
Femoral Haemodynamics Measured by Femoral Artery Duplex UltrasonographyChange in baseline femoral haemodynamics at 6 weeksUltrasound assessment of blood flow dynamics in the femoral artery will be obtained at rest, and if randomised to the intervention group, whilst using the device.
Serum Metabolic ProfileChange of profile at baseline and 6 weeksA serum sample will be collected at baseline and at 6 weeks. Mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis will be carried out.
Urine Metabolic ProfileChange of profile at baseline and at 6 weeksA urine sample will be collected at baseline and at 6 weeks. Mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis will be carried out.
Laser Doppler Flow Measured by Optical LaserChange in baseline flowmetry at 6 weeksOptical laser flowmetry probes will be used to assess the superficial skin circulation and temperature.

Countries

United Kingdom

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Intervention
Patients receiving neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: Revitive IX neuromuscular electrical stimulation device will be given to all participants as per protocol.
20
Total20

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudySignificant outlier1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIntervention
Age, Continuous70 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.7
Ankle Brachial Pressure Index - ABPI (Left)0.69 Ratio
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.17
Ankle Brachial Pressure Index - ABPI (Right)0.71 Ratio
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.17
Body Mass Index - BMI27.4 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.5
Initial Claudication Distance - ICD (m)37.7 m
Maximum Claudication Distance - MCD (m)89.3 m
Region of Enrollment
United Kingdom
20 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
16 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 20
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 20
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 20

Outcome results

Primary

Absolute Walking Distance Measured by Treadmill

For the absolute claudication distance measurement, a fixed load treadmill test will be carried out at 3.5 km/h with a 10% gradient. The absolute claudication distance (ACD) is the distance walked before the participant is forced to stop due to typical pain.

Time frame: Change in baseline treadmill walking distance at 6 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
InterventionAbsolute Walking Distance Measured by Treadmill130 m
Primary

Change From Baseline in Initial Walking Distance

Initial walking distance measured by treadmill For the initial claudication distance measurement, a fixed load treadmill test will be carried out at 3.5 km/h with a 10% gradient. The initial claudication distance (ICD) is the distance walked until the onset of pain.

Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
InterventionChange From Baseline in Initial Walking Distance64.3 metres
Secondary

Femoral Haemodynamics Measured by Femoral Artery Duplex Ultrasonography

Ultrasound assessment of blood flow dynamics in the femoral artery will be obtained at rest, and if randomised to the intervention group, whilst using the device.

Time frame: Change in baseline femoral haemodynamics at 6 weeks

Secondary

Laser Doppler Flow Measured by Optical Laser

Optical laser flowmetry probes will be used to assess the superficial skin circulation and temperature.

Time frame: Change in baseline flowmetry at 6 weeks

Secondary

Quality of Life Scores Measured by Questionnaire

Validated questionnaires including the Euro-Quol 5D and Short Form 36 will be measured at baseline and 6 weeks.

Time frame: Change in baseline quality of life at 6 weeks

Secondary

Serum Metabolic Profile

A serum sample will be collected at baseline and at 6 weeks. Mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis will be carried out.

Time frame: Change of profile at baseline and 6 weeks

Secondary

Symptomatic Scores by Questionnaire

Validated questionnaires including the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire and Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire will be obtained at baseline and week 6.

Time frame: Change in baseline questionnaire scores at 6 weeks

Secondary

Urine Metabolic Profile

A urine sample will be collected at baseline and at 6 weeks. Mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis will be carried out.

Time frame: Change of profile at baseline and at 6 weeks

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 19, 2026