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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print

PubMed: 41662341 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwag080

Effect of a home-based calf neuromuscular electrical stimulation program on walking capacity in adults with lower-extremity PAD: the ELECTRO-PAD RCT.

Eur J Prev Cardiol

Authors: Alexis Le Faucheur, Adrien Chanteau, Pierre Jéhannin, Estelle Le Pabic, Aya Houssein, Marjolaine Talbot, Mary-Lynn Mimassi, Alan Donnelly, Benjamin Espinasse, Simon Lecoq, Alessandra Bura-Rivière, Adrien Kaladji, Damien Lanéelle, Guillaume Mahé

Affiliations

  • Univ Rennes, M2S - EA 7470, F-35000 Rennes, France.
  • Inserm, CIC 1414 (Clinical Investigation Center), CHU Rennes, F-35033 Rennes, France.
  • Univ. Rennes, CNRS, IRMAR, Rennes, France.
  • Vascular Medicine Unit, CHU Rennes, University Hospital, F-35033 Rennes, France.
  • PESS Department and Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
  • Vascular Medicine Department, CHU Brest, F-29200 Brest, France.
  • Univ Brest, Inserm, UMR 1304, GETBO, Brest, France.
  • Vascular Medicine Department, CHU Angers, F-49000 Angers, France.
  • Vascular Medicine Department, Toulouse University Hospital and University of Toulouse, F-31000 Toulouse, France.
  • Vascular surgery Unit, CHU Rennes, University Hospital, F-35033 Rennes, France.
  • Vascular Medicine Department, CHU Caen-Normandie, University Hospital, F-14000 Caen, France.

Abstract

AIM

To evaluate whether a 3-month home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) program improved maximal walking distance (MWD) in patients with lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared with usual care.

METHODS

This multicenter randomized clinical trial included 73 adults with PAD and walking impairment from five French university hospitals between September 2019 and July 2022, with final follow-up in November 2022. Participants were randomized to a NMES group (n = 34) or a usual care group (n = 39) for 3 months. Both groups received standard medical management and lifestyle advice; the NMES group performed calf NMES sessions at home for 2-3 hours/day, 5 days/week. The primary outcome was the 3-month change in treadmill MWD. Secondary outcomes included change in 6-minute total walking distance.

RESULTS

Of the 73 randomized participants (mean [SD] age, 62.8 [9.2] years; 14 [19.2%] women), 64 (88%) completed the 3-month follow-up. Mean treadmill MWD increased from 148.5 m at baseline to 254.1 m at 3 months in the NMES group and from 142.5 m to 175.8 m in the usual care group (between-group difference, 69.9 m [95% CI, 10.8-129.0 m]; P = .02). The 6-minute total walking distance improved from 371.0 m to 405.4 m with NMES and from 342.5 m to 348.8 m with usual care (between-group difference, 29.6 m [95% CI, 5.1-54.1 m]; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with PAD and walking impairment, a 3-month home-based calf NMES program significantly improved walking capacity. Further studies are needed to assess long-term effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03795103.

MeSH

Exercise, Cardiovascular Diseases, Intermittent Claudication, Walking