Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The Effect of Adding Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Endurance and Resistance Training on Exercise Capacity and Balance in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a preventable respiratory characterized by airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible. This disease a major cause of mortality worldwide. It is projected to rank the third-leading cause of death in 2020.

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of a physical therapy intervention in stable patients with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have demonstrated important balance impairment (1).The deficit in balance control is identified as one of the risk factors of fall in subjects with COPD and alters their activities daily life (2,3). Porto and al. (2015) reported in a recent review that individuals with COPD have a decline in balance control when compared with healthy age matched controls(4).

Inclusion Criteria:

• COPD diagnosed by pulmonary function testing
• Clinically stable
• Abscence of other obstructive diseases
• Signed written consent
• Fall in the past five years or recent near fall

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neuromuscular diseases
• Severe psychiatric, neurologic or musculoskeletal conditions and /or instable cardiovascular diseases.
• Contre-indications to physical therapy
• Acute exacerbations a month before the intervention