Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Mass, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Older Patients With COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on muscle strength, fatigue, muscle mass, and quality of life (QoL) in older patients with COVID-19.Methods: Older patients with COVID-19 were randomly divided into the following 2 groups: real FES (intervention group, n = 20) and sham FES (control group, n = 20). These patients received FES concurrent with the voluntary contraction of muscles for 10 consecutive sessions. Ultrasound imaging, pressure biofeedback, Chalder fatigue scale, and QoL were utilized to measure muscle mass, muscle strength, chronic fatigue, and QoL, respectively. Evaluations were performed at the beginning, immediately, and 1 month after the end of intervention. Results: All variables showed statistically significant improvement immediately and 1 month after the intervention in the real FES group (P < .05). However, the tibialis anterior muscle mass and fatigue significantly improved immediately after the intervention in the sham FES group. However, the tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles strength and rectus femoris muscle mass were not significantly changed immediately and 1 month after the intervention (P > .05). There were significant differences in muscle mass, physical fatigue, muscle strength, and QoL between groups with more efficacy of real FES (P < .05).Conclusion: For this sample of patients, FES improved fatigue, muscle strength, muscle mass, and QoL in older adults with COVID-19.