NMES and pelvic fracture rehabilitation RCT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of Neuromuscular Electrical Muscle Stimulation with Pelvic Fracture Rehabilitation: A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomised Control Trial.
IRAS ID
166314
Contact name
Jessica Rich
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Management Office (JRMO)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
The purpose of the study is to investigate if using an electrical stimulation machine can help strengthen the muscles around the hip during the first three months post pelvic fracture will help with the early stages of rehabilitation.
Electrical stimulation is a treatment machine that uses an electrical current to cause a single muscle or a group of muscles to contract. This contraction helps strengthen injured muscles and helps with the healing process. It can also help with pain relief by blocking pain signals from the brain.
Pelvic fractures are surgically fixed and the patient will be advised not to put any weight on the operated leg for 10 weeks. During this time hip muscles become very weak as they will not be used as much as normal. Bed exercises can help keep muscle strength but this study would like to try using electrical stimulation machines alongside bed exercises to see if it can improve muscle strength even more. Electrical stimulation machines are already used by patients to increase muscle strength.
Participants will be put into one of two groups, both groups will be given an electrical stimulation machine but one will be on a placebo setting. Participants will need to use the machine twice a day along with their bed exercises and will need to fill in a diary when and how many times the machine has been used for 10 weeks until their 12 week appointment with the orthopaedic consultant. The participants weight bearing status will change and they will be asked to perform a muscle strength test on both the operated and non-operated leg. They will also have their walking quality assessed. The results will compare both groups for muscle strength and walking changes.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0119
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion