The possibility of using skeletal muscle electrical stimulation in the rehabilitation of patients after cardiac surgery

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) in patients with the complicated early postoperative period after cardiac surgery.
Methods. 61 patients (44 men and 17 women) aged 52-70 years with the complicated early postoperative period after cardiac surgery were included in the study. The complications included prolonged length of stay in the intensive care unit and prolonged mechanical ventilation. The initial muscle performance of the lower extremities was measured with the carpal and isokinetic dynamometer in all patients. The six-minute walk test was performed in all patients after they had been transferred to the department of cardiac surgery.
Results. Patients in the study group had reduced lower extremity muscle strength at baseline, compared with the control group. After the EMS sessions, the study group patients demonstrated pronounced improvements in muscle performance as compared to the control group. Both knee-joint extension values increased during the isometric contraction as compared to those in the control group (38.8% and 40.0% versus 8.1% and 8.4%, p <0.001), similarly to right knee-joint flexion (23.7% versus 10.1%, p = 0.008), left ankle joint (18.6 versus 4.3%, p = 0.010), right-hand grip strength (18.3 versus 11.1%, p = 0.042). In addition, the six-minute walk test results improved in the EMS group (119.72% (293 meters) and 87.13% (315 meters)) as compared to the control group (p = 0.079).
Conclusion. The EMS sessions did not affect the clinical status of cardiac surgical patients with the complicated postoperative period. Moreover, it appeared to be beneficial in terms of the improved lower extremity muscle strength that was more pronounced in the study group than in the control group. Therefore, the effects of EMS on the clinical status of these patients require the further investigation.

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