This clinical study aims to compare the effects of conventional physical therapy alone versus conventional physical therapy combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in patients admitted to the ICU and undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either conventional physical therapy or the same therapy plus NMES applied to the lower limbs. The protocol includes muscle-specific stimulation parameters and safety criteria to postpone sessions in cases of clinical instability. The primary goal is to assess whether NMES improves muscle function and recovery in critically ill patients.
Patients will be eligible if they are 18 years or older, are under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and are expected to require IMV for more than 48 hours.
Body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 35 kg/m²;
Length of ICU stay longer than 7 ICU-free days or more than 3 continuous days of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) before enrollment;
Known intracranial process (e.g., stroke, intracranial hypertension);
Neuromuscular disease (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis) at ICU admission;
Hospital Moinhos de Vento
Lead sponsor
Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
Collaborator