Whole-body electrical stimulation in patients undergoing lung transplantation in Southern Brazil: study protocol of a single-center randomized controlled trial.

backgroundLung transplantation (LT) is indicated to increase the survival and quality of life of people with advanced lung disease. However, these patients often experience muscle mass loss and reduced physical capacity due to immobility and disease-related limitations. Whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) emerges as an alternative to optimize rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate the effects of WB-EMS combined with conventional physical therapy compared to physical therapy alone on the muscle strength of hospitalized patients after LT.

methodsThis is a single-center, randomized, parallel-group study with a 1:1 allocation to either the intervention group (conventional physical therapy + WB-EMS) or the control group (conventional physical therapy alone). A total of 26 adult patients, aged 18 to 65, on the lung transplant waiting list at Santa Casa of Porto Alegre hospital will be recruited by a trained physiotherapist. They must not have any musculoskeletal limitations that would prevent them from performing the preoperative functional tests. Randomization will take place postoperatively, after extubation. The WB-EMS protocol will consist of daily sessions until 15 sessions are completed or until hospital discharge. The outcome assessors will be blinded. Both groups will be evaluated before the lung transplant for muscle thickness (ultrasound) and muscle strength (general-Medical Research Council and limb specific-dynamometry, hand grip, sit-to-stand test), respiratory muscle strength (manovacuometry), and functional capacity (6-min walk test). After the lung transplant, blood samples will be collected for biochemical markers, in addition to re-evaluating muscle strength (MRC) and thickness, including respiratory muscle strength. At the end of the protocol, all tests will be performed again. Mortality will be tracked at 30 and 60 days and 1-year post-transplant, and the length of hospital stay will be recorded. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to investigate the effects of WB-EMS in lung transplant patients. The results may offer new avenues for rehabilitation in this population. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals, conferences, and appropriate social media platforms. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06249334. Registered on November 2023.