ABSTRACT
The effects of adding functional electrical stimulation (FES) to short-term aerobic and resistance exercise (combined training) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have not yet been established. This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding FES to combined training on peripheral arterial flow, functional capacity and quality of life of post-CABG patients participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program - Phase II. This is a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial, composed of 17 patients (54.8±10.5 years old, 12 men) randomized or in an intervention group (IG, n=8,) submitted to FES in the quadriceps muscle associated with combined training, or in a sham group (SG, n=9), which performed the FES sham in association with the combined training. The evaluated outcomes were: peripheral arterial flow (ankle-brachial index), functional capacity (distance covered in the six-minute walk test - 6MWT) and quality of life (MacNew questionnaire). In the comparison between the groups, the increase in the ankle-brachial index (IG: 0.14±0.08mmHg vs. CG: 0.05±0.04mmHg; p=0.020) and the score of the global MacNew questionnaire (IG: 1.1±0.3 points vs. CG: 0.6±0.4 points; p=0.020) was higher in the IG. However, no difference was observed between the groups for the 6MWT (IG: 130.9±73.7m vs SG: 73.7±32.6m; p=0.072). The addition of FES, during a short period, potentiated the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on peripheral arterial flow and quality of life in patients after CABG in Phase II of cardiac rehabilitation.
Keywords |
Electrical stimulation; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Coronary Artery Bypass; Ankle-brachial Index; Quality of life
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