Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in early rehabilitation of Guillain‐Barré syndrome: A pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: In Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), patients often develop muscle atrophy from denervation and immobilization. We, therefore, conducted a pilot study of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to evaluate feasibility, safety, and effect on muscle wasting in the early phase of GBS. Methods: Seventeen patients were randomized to receive 20 min of muscle fiber stimulation followed by 40 min of NMES of the right or left quadriceps muscle with the untreated side as control. Cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the muscle measured by ultrasound and isometric knee extensor strength were the primary and secondary outcome measures. Results: No treatment related adverse effects were recorded. Change in CSA was ‐0.25 cm2 (confidence interval [CI], ‐0.93–0.42) on the stimulated side versus ‐0.60 cm2 (CI, ‐1.32–0.11) on the nonstimulated side (P = 0.08). No effect was observed on muscle strength. Conclusions: NMES seems safe and feasible in the early phase of GBS. Further studies are needed to explore effect on muscle function. Muscle Nerve 59:481–484, 2019

Electrical muscle stimulation intervention in the acute phase of neuromyelitis optica: Two case reports

“… 8 , 9 In this study, the subjects showed minimal change in the thickness of the VL muscle. The results of this report support previous findings 8 , 11 , 13 and suggest that the use of EMS to treat muscles with paralysis seems safe and feasible in the early phase of NMO.…”

“…A study on EMS intervention for Guillain-Barré syndrome, a demyelinating disease similar to NMO, has recently been reported. 11 Harbo et al 11 reported that EMS intervention tended to inhibit muscle mass loss more than no intervention ( p = 0.08) and seemed safe and feasible in the early phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome. EMS has been found effective for muscle atrophy caused by bed rest, 12 immobilization, 7 and nerve injury.…”

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in an Elderly Patient Initially Misdiagnosed As Frailty

“…However, Fried et al proposed shrinking, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low activity as diagnostic criteria that are easily adaptable to clinical practice [ 1 ]. Symptoms are more likely to progress in an infectious or inpatient setting, and early hospital discharge and rehabilitation are effective [ 3 - 4 ].…”

Electrical stimulation alters muscle morphological properties in denervated upper limb muscles

“…There are only a few studies that investigated the effect of ES in GBS. A pilot study applied neuromuscular as well as direct muscle stimulation in the early stage of GBS [30] with the aim to avoid disuse and denervation atrophy of the quadriceps muscle during the neurological recovery [30] . In that study, the GBS disability score improved significantly but not muscle strength.…”