The Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Reverse Muscle Atrophy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

September 9, 2014 updated by: University of Pittsburgh
This study will be a small randomized clinical trial to test the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to improve physical function and reverse muscle atrophy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The investigators will also determine the mechanism by which NMES affects muscle hypertrophy and physical function. The proposed study will be the first step in demonstrating that NMES training is an effective alternative to highly intense volitional exercises (VE) in individuals with RA. After baseline testing, 60 individuals with RA will be randomly assigned to a 16-week NMES program or highly intense VE program. Both programs will be applied based on the best current clinical evidence. Subjects will be re-assessed after intervention. Groups will be compared for differences in performance-based and self-reported lower extremity function, muscle volume, muscle strength, proportion and area of type I and II muscle fibers, fat content, and muscle oxidative capacity from pre- to post-intervention. Changes in physical function, muscle volume, and muscle strength will be correlated with proportion and area of type I and II muscle fibers, fat content, and markers of muscle oxidative capacity.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

64

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15260
        • Physical Therapy Department

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • English-speaking
  • Age 21 or older
  • Diagnosed with RA for at least 5 years according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology
  • Independent ambulator

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension (above 140/90 mmHg);
  • History of a quadriceps tendon or patellar tendon rupture;
  • History of previous adverse reaction associated with electrical stimulation treatment;
  • Surgery to the dominant lower extremities within the past 6 months.
  • History of a neurological disorder that may affect lower extremity function, such as cerebrovascular accident or neuropathy, parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.;
  • History of muscle disease such as muscular dystrophy;
  • Change in medication regimen (excluding NSAID change) during the month prior to treatment;
  • Current use of cholesterol-lowering medication;
  • History of malignancy during the last 5 years, excluding skin cancers other than melanoma;
  • Current or anticipated pregnancy;
  • Less than 70º of passive knee flexion;
  • Are not willing to undergo needle biopsy.
  • Participated in progressive resistance training or NMES training in the prior year;
  • Prior adverse effects with local anesthesia.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
NMES will be used as in clinical practice based on an evidence-based approach. NMES will be applied at the participant's maximum tolerance. Participants will receive 3 treatments/week for 12 weeks with at least 48h between training sessions.
Other: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Strength of the quadriceps muscles will be tested at the beginning of each session. During administration of the NMES participant will sit with the knees bent at 70 degrees. The force sensing pad will be secured to the ankle joint. Two electrodes will be placed on the thigh muscle; one near the hip and the other near the knee joint. The intensity of NMES will be increased gradually according with tolerance. During each treatment 15 electrically elicited muscle contractions will be administered to each thigh. Each contraction will last 14 sec followed by 1min rest.
Other Names:
  • Electrical Stimulation
Active Comparator: Volitional exercises
VE will be used as in clinical practice based on an evidence-based approach. VE program will be the one shown to positively affect muscle hypertrophy and will follow the resistance training principles. Participants will receive 3 treatments/week for 12 weeks with at least 48h between training sessions
Other: Volitional exercises
The training will include bilateral exercises using resistance equipment (Leg Extension and Leg Press machines). Each resistance exercise will have: (a) dynamic muscle action at moderate repetition velocity (1-2 s concentric, 1-2 s eccentric, 2-3 s interval); (b) 3 sets of 8 repetitions with a load corresponding to 80% of one repetition maximum(1-RM); (c) 2-min rest period between sets and exercises.
Other Names:
  • Strength training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Short Physical Performance Battery
Time Frame: 4 months
4 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Muscle volume
Time Frame: 4 months
4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sara R Piva, PT, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

June 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 18, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

June 19, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

September 10, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 9, 2014

Last Verified

September 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • K01HD058035-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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