Project Summary: Patients who have a length of stay four or more days in ICU and requiring mechanical ventilation assistance to breathe for more than 48 hours will be invited to participate. Participants will be randomised to either receive Functional Electrical Stimulation (eStimCycle) assisted cycling or standard care. As cycling in bed has previously been shown to improve physical function, patients who receive cycling as a treatment will have one leg that cycles and the other leg that cycles with assistance of electrical stimulation as we want to establish the effectiveness of the addition of electrical stimulation of muscle. Muscle bulk, strength and physical function outcome measures will be measured at baseline, weekly in ICU, ICU discharge and hospital discharge. Cognitive function will also be measured at hospital discharge, 6- and 12-month follow-up. A small group of patients in this study will be invited to provide samples of blood, urine and muscle at ICU admission and discharge to try and determine what happens to muscle in patients who are critically ill. Significance of the Project: This is an important study because the development of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) can result in long term limitations in physical function. Early treatment to maintain strong muscles during an intensive care stay may help speed up recovery and enhance participation in other rehabilitation treatments and improve functional activities and cognition. These are important objectives for both patients and their families. In addition understanding why the muscles become so weak so quickly in patients in ICU will help to develop treatments that may help to maintain muscle strength. Study Hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: eStimCycle versus usual care rehabilitation will improve muscle strength at hospital discharge. Hypothesis 2: eStimCycle versus usual care rehabilitation will improve cognitive function at 6 month follow up. Hypothesis 3: Patients receiving eStimCycle will have improved activity of anabolic signalling pathways and less atrophy of skeletal muscle fibre size compared with usual care rehabilitation.
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Muscle mass and cross sectional area
Timeframe: Baseline, weekly in ICU for an average 2 weeks and at CU discharge (on average 14 days) with participants beng followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 4 weeks
Muscle Strength
Timeframe: Baseline, weekly in ICU for an average 2 weeks and at ICU discharge (on average 14 dats) with participants beng followed for the duration of hospital stay on average of 4 weeks. Hand-held dynamometry will also be assessed at 6 and 12 months.
Neuropsychological Battery of Tests
Timeframe: 6 and 12 months post ICU discharge