1. Holcroft LB 1, Coughlan GF 1, Caulfield B 1, Crowe L 1, Barry P 2, Nicholson T 2, Gallagher CG 2 1 Stim XDP Research Group, Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Ireland. 2 St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park,Dublin 4, Ireland. lorna.holcroft@ucdconnect.ie Keywords: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, physical fitness, cystic fibrosis INTRODUCTION Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting genetic disease in caucasians. 1 Skeletal muscle weakness and exercise intolerance is prevalent in people with cystic fibrosis. 2 Although higher levels of fitness have been associated with better quality of well-being and improved eight year survival training among individuals with CF is limited due to fatigue, hypoxaemia and dyspnoea. 3 Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has demonstrated improvements in muscle strength, exercise tolerance and aerobic capacity in cardiorespiratory disease populations, while having minimal impact on oxygen saturation levels and heart rate. 4,5 METHODS 11 participants (9 males, 2 females) undertook a 6 week NMES training program. Training consisted of NMES to the major leg muscles (Figure 1) for 1 hour /day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The effects of the intervention were measured by means of pulmonary function testing (PFT), a Modified Shuttle Walk Test (MST) and isokinetic measurement of quadriceps (Q) and hamstring (H) strength. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the results. RESULTS 6 participants (5 males and 1 female) completed the study (Age: 28.83 ± 5.12 years, BMI: 21.68 ± 2.49 kg/m 2 ). 5 participants withdrew (4 due to pulmonary exacerbations and 1 due to personal reasons). Results are presented in Table 1. CONCLUSION NMES does appear to have potential as a means of physical training for people with CF for whom participation in traditional exercise programs is not feasible. REFERENCES 1. CF Foundation National Patient Registry Annual Data Report. Bethesda, Maryland 2002. 2. Troosters T et al. Skeletal muscle weakness, exercise tolerance and physical Inactivity in adults with CF. Eur Respir J 2009;33 99-106 3. Nixon et al. The prognostic value of exercise testing in patients with CF. N Eng J Medicine. 1992. 327: 1785-1788 4. Vivodtzev I et al. NMES of the Lower Limbs in Patients with COPD. JCRP 2008 28: 79-91 5. Banerjee P et al. EMS Exercise Improves Strength, Peak VO 2 and Exercise Capacity In Patients with Stable CHF.J Cardiac Fail 2009; 1-9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With grateful appreciation to all study participants and collaborators: Dr. Garrett Coughlan, Dr. Brian Caulfield, Dr. Louis Crowe, Dr. Peter Barry, Dr. Trevor Nicholson. ACPRC Annual Conference, Nottingham, UK, 16 th - 17 th April, 2010 A pilot investigation into the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation training on physical fitness in an adult cystic fibrosis population. Fig 1. NMES Applied to the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles. Results Summary: 4% increase in Q peak torque 16% increase in H peak torque 5% increase in MST No change in FEV1% Table 1: Mean Results M – metres, Nm iso – Newton metres isokinetic