ACHA Publication: Feasibility within-subject RCT of neuromuscular electrical stimulation; an Intervention to Maintain and improve neuroMuscular function during period of Immobility (IMMI)

This research was conducted by a team at the Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research (CMAR) at the University of Nottingham with support from researchers based at ACHA.

It considered neuromuscular stimulation – where electrodes are applied to the skin to stimulate the muscles to contract.   It considered the feasibility of neuromuscular stimulation for patients admitted to hospital following a fragility fracture in the hope that this could overcome some of the losses associated with immobility in hospital.

The researchers found that many patients in this group were too unwell to participate in the research, or that they had cognitive impairment that meant they couldn’t provide consent.  When the neuromuscular stimulation was able to be applied, five out of the 29 patients enrolled in the study couldn’t tolerate the treatment.

The researchers concluded that a trial of neuromuscular stimulation might be feasible in this population but only in patients with mild frailty and without other major health or memory problems. You can read more about the research here.