An investigation into the acute effects of electrical muscle stimulation on cardiopulmonary function in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient - a pilot case study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients commonly find it difficult to participate in conventional aerobic exercise training owing to limited cardiopulmonary reserve, excessive dyspnoea and muscle fatigue. Recent studies have shown that significant improvements in oxygen consumption can be gained post 6-week electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) training. Low frequency currents elicit a sustained and significant aerobic response and may be appropriate for COPD patients, who cannot exercise in a conventional manner. A recent study compared the acute metabolic response among COPD patients during resistance training and EMS, using a tetanic frequency of 75 Hertz (Hz), however no investigations have reported on the acute effects of EMS on cardiopulmonary function in a COPD population, using low frequency stimulation current.