Efficacy of FES Cycling After a Severe Form of COVID-19 (FESrehabCoV)

Efficacy of Physical Therapy Using Cycling With vs With no Functional Electrical Stimulation in Patient With Severe Form of COVID-19: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affect at late march 2021 more than 127 millions of persons worldwide (including more than 4.5 millions in France, according to John Hopkins University https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html, consulted 2021/3/25). Among these persons, 17% of the confirmed cases the COVID-19 develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (Chen et al., 2020), requiring an hospitalization in intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation for prolonged periods (in median up to 21 days whereas 3.3 is the usual mean length of stay). This prolonged period of inactivity causes dramatical muscles and cardio-respiratory losses. These patients experience a dramatical decrease in the physical ability which is reinforce by the protective isolation measures and containment to prevent the further spread of the virus. Rehabilitation of patients with a severe form of the COVID-19 faced new challenges due to the novelty of the disease and protective isolation measures to prevent the further spread of the virus. Rehabilitation target a recovery of the cardio-respiratory, muscle deficits and improvement in activity. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is one innovative technique, among other. FES have been shown as effective to improve the respiratory function in patients with a severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Acheche et al., 2020; Maddocks et al., 2016), reduce the muscle loss due to zero gravity in space for astronauts (Maffiuletti et al., 2019), or increase strength in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury (de Freitas et al., 2018). FES has been recently delivered during cycling to restore pedaling movements with an adequate rhythm of muscle contraction. To date, FES cycling has been successfully administered in patients with spinal cord injury, and has been shown to be more effective in patient with severe COPD for improving the exercising intensity; reducing fatigue and improving quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis (Backus et al., 2020). In a pilot study, we shown that 4 week of physical therapy incluing FES cycling resulted in a fasten recovery of active postures as compared to physical therapy including cycling alone. (Mateo et al., under revision). Therefore, we hypothesize that a 4-week period of rehabilitation based on physical therapy with FES cycling would result in a significantly increase of activity profile (decrease in inactive posture duration) in patient with a severe form of COVID-19 (i.e., with an ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation).

Immediately after the discharge of the intensive care unit, patient with a severe form of the COVID-19 will be admitted in the rehabilitation hospital. Rehabilitation will consist in physical therapy twice a day, 30 minutes, 5 days a week. One session will be dedicated to a standardized cycling training (TECHNOGYM RECLINE EXCITE 700). All participants will follow the same 4-week rehabilitation protocol representing a total of 1200 minutes. Participants randomized in the experimental group will received functional electrical stimulation administered to surface electrodes attached to lower limb muscles (quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus maximus and triceps). Electrical stimulation will be delivered appropriately to the muscle during cycling regarding the angle of the pedal by a stimulator (Motimove-8 de 3Fit Fabricando Faber).

Physical therapy that include a standardized cycling training with no additional functional electrical stimulation

Immediately after the discharge of the intensive care unit, patient with a severe form of the COVID-19 will be admitted in the rehabilitation hospital. Rehabilitation will consist in physical therapy twice a day, 30 minutes, 5 days a week. One session will be dedicated to a standardized cycling training (TECHNOGYM RECLINE EXCITE 700). All participants will follow the same 4-week rehabilitation protocol representing a total of 1200 minutes. Participants randomized in the control group will received no additional functional electrical stimulation during cycling.

Change in daily duration in sedentary posture between week 1 of rehabilitation (start) and week 4 of rehabilitation (end).

The duration in sedentary posture will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer.

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) during week 1 of rehabilitation (start) and week 4 of rehabilitation (end).

The duration in sedentary posture will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer.

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

The duration in standing posture will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer.

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

The duration in walking/running activities will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer.

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

The duration in light intensity levels will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer accordingly based on the activity counts determined by Freedson et al., (1998).

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

The duration in moderate intensity levels will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer accordingly based on the activity counts determined by Freedson et al., (1998).

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

This duration in hard/very hard intensity levels will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer accordingly based on the activity counts determined by Freedson et al., (1998).

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Number of steps per day will be measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph, wGT3X, Pensacola, USA) worn at the belt on the right hip as recommended (Garnotel et al., 2018). The accelerometer is worn continously for 48 hours (i.e., from 00 to 24 hours). The Actilife ® software (current version 6) will be used to analyzed the data recorded by the accelerometer.

48 hours (from 00 to 24 hours) at week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Test performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Manual muscle test that assesses 3 muscle groups of the upper and lower limb (shoulder abductor, elbow flexor, wrist extensor, hip flexor, knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor) with scores from 0 to 5. This test has been validated for patient with acquired paresis in intensive care unit (De Jonghe, 2002) and for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (Ciesla et al., 2011). The score range from 0 to 60 (i.e., complete paresis to normal strength).

Test performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Measure performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Measure performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

This will be measured using portable bioimpedancemetry with the Biody Xpert device. Data recorded will be analyzed using the Biodymanager software

Measure performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Blood test performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

This will be measured using portable tonus device measurement Myotonpro® on quadriceps, hamstring and triceps muscles, at both lower limbs. A probe will stimulate and record the stiffness coefficient of the targeted muscles.

Measure performed at the beginning of week 1 (start), week 2, week 3, week 4 (end) of rehabilitation and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (i.e., week 16, follow-up).

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 18 years Being hospitalized for rehabilitation because of a severe form of the COVID-19 that required an admission in intensive care unit for acute distress respiratory syndrome treated by mechanical ventilation. Being beneficiary of the French social security. Exclusion Criteria: Person requiring supplementation in oxygen > 4 L/min because above this threshold, the oxygen flow is considered to be associated with an increased risk of aerosolization and further virus spread in patient being contagious; Oxygen desaturation during exercise (i.e., SpO2 < 90%) and requiring supplementation in oxygen > 4 L/min. Person showing a lower motor neuron disease as defined by the medical research council score < 48/60 including hyporeflexia (quadricipital and triceps tendons) and decrease in lower limb sensation. Persons showing denervated muscle (including quadriceps, hamstring, gluteus and triceps) confirmed by electromyography because the electrical stimulations delivered by the stimulator (i.e., symmetric and rectangular biphasic currents) are not appropriate to restore a pedaling movement; Person with osteo-articular disease at lower limbs including reduction in range of motion at the hip, knee and ankle preventing cycling pedaling in a sitting position; Persons with associated neurologic or psychiatric disease; Person with a medical contraindication to intensive rehabilitation; Person suffering from suspected or diagnosed epilepsy; Person with an implanted device; Person included in another ongoing research or during an exclusion period of another research; Adults protected by law (guardianship or curatorship); Pregnant women