PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Timm Greulich
AU  - Maja Franke
AU  - Juliane Fechtel
AU  - Christoph Nell
AU  - Katharina Kehr
AU  - Silke Mueller
AU  - Harald Schubert
AU  - Klaus Kenn
AU  - Claus Vogelmeier
AU  - Andreas Rembert Koczulla
TI  - A randomised clinical trial to assess the effect of active muscle stimulation on hospitalised patients with COPD exacerbations
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4775
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4775.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4775.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Introduction:Physical exercise reduces the detrimental effects of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Galileo™ system (Novotec Medical, Pforzheim, Germany) is based on the principle of active muscle contraction via extension reflex triggers.Aim:To assess the effect of active muscle stimulation in hospitalised COPD patients on exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (Qol), and inflammation.Methods:24 hospitalised COPD patients with an acute exacerbation were randomised to participate either in the standard physiotherapy programme (PT: physical and respiratory exercises) or in the standard programme with the addition of exercises on the Galileo device (PTG). On the days of admission and discharge we assessed: 6-minute walking test (6-MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT), and serum c-reactive protein (CRP).Results:The baseline characteristics are shown in table 1.View this table:While CRP decreased in both groups (p<0.05), we found a significant increase in the 6-MWT (p<0.005) and a significant decrease in the CAT (p<0.05) in the PTG group only (table 2).View this table:Conclusion:In patients hospitalised due to an exacerbation of COPD, the addition of active muscle contraction with the Galileo system results in beneficial effects on Qol and exercise capacity.