The Use of NMES With Pelvic Fracture Rehabilitation
Fractures, Closed
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Fractures, Closed
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients who can give written informed consent
- Patients with surgically fixed pelvic fractures who are TTWB for up to 10-12 weeks
- Patients with associated injuries considered for example fractured upper limb however their recovery must be within six weeks when they start the intervention.
- Males and females between 18-70 years old
- Patients able to comply and complete the electrical stimulation machine and complete both bed exercises and NMES twice daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with current or previous mental health, chronic pain or previous injury which may affect participation.
- Any complex lower limb injury in either limb unless fixed and cleared six weeks post injury.
- Severe kidney injuries which are ongoing will not considered following a case of rhabdomyolysis induced by excessive NMES (Guarascio et al, 2004).
- Patients who may be pregnant
- Patients who suffer from sensitivity problems for the skin
- Patients who may have an abdominal or Inguinal hernia
- Patients with arterial circulation disorders of the lower limb
- Patients with pacemakers
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Placebo Comparator
Treatment NMES
Placebo NMES
Patients allocated to the NMES group will be given an information booklet on NMES machines. The Cefar Compex three electrical stimulator will be used. Participants are expected to use the NMES machine for half an hour and complete bed exercises twice daily. Patients should relax during the NMES as completing both does not demonstrate better results, due to unsynchronised activation of the NMES (Gregory & Bickel, 2005). Using the machine once daily will allow for the recovery of the muscle. A voluntary contraction would normally be 20-30Hz but due to the high intensities of the NMES (35-75Hz) it can cause muscle fatigue (Maffiuletti, 2011).
The placebo group will act as the control group. They will be expected to complete the same regime as previously described above, however these machines will be on TENS setting (80-100Hz) as even low Hz can trigger motor stimulation (Paillard 2008). This setting is designed as a sensory stimulus therefore will have no effects on muscle strength however the patient will feel a small twitch sensation. This setting is not painful and will have no effect on muscle fatigue. The patient will not be expected to complete the bed exercises and the TENS session together.