Abstract
[Purpose] To analyze the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) applied to the abdominal muscles of patients with COPD. [Subjects] A total of 22 patients in group A, mean age of 68.2 ± 6.4 years and in group B, 71.2 ± 10.1 years. [Methods] Randomized clinical trial. Patients with COPD were randomly an evenly divided into two groups: group A (NMES + conventional therapy) and group B (conventional physiotherapy) and respiratory muscle strength was measured by pressure manometry before and after the end of the experimental protocols. [Results] Maximum inspiratory pressure before and after the intervention of group A was -64 (44–74) cm H2O, respectively, and -68 (56–96) cmH2O, and in group B, -52 (46–92) cm H2O and -60 (50–72) cmH2O. Maximum expiratory pressure of group A was 84 (72–92) cmH2O and 112 (94–120), respectively, and in group B, 76 (60–100) cmH2O and 84 (60–108) cmH2O. [Conclusion] The results indicate that expiratory muscle training with Russian current together with conventional physical therapy during hospitalization improves the respiratory muscle strength of patients with COPD.
