NCT07079553

Combined Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Diaphragmatic Stimulation With ACBT'S in Copd

Combined Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Diaphragmatic Stimulation With ACBT's in COPD

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Riphah International University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The combined effects of transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation (TEDS) and active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBTs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) conducted as a randomized controlled trial at Gulab Devi Hospital, the study involved 50 participants aged 40 to 60 with mild to moderate COPD. Participants were divided into two groups, one receiving both TEDS and ACBT, and the other receiving only ACBT. Over 12 weeks, improvements in lung function, oxygen saturation, exercise capacity, and quality of life were measured using spirometry, pulse oximetry, the 6-minute walk test, and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Both groups showed significant improvement, but the group receiving ACBT alone showed a slightly higher mean rank in some outcomes. The study concludes that while both interventions are beneficial, ACBT alone may offer more consistent improvements. It recommends including respiratory muscle assessments and combining interventions with education and exercise in future research.

Detailed description

This study investigates the effectiveness of combining transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation (TEDS) with active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBTs) in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by airflow limitation, respiratory muscle weakness, and reduced quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions like pulmonary rehabilitation, including TEDS and ACBT, have shown individual benefits in improving lung function and exercise tolerance in COPD patients. However, the combined effect of these interventions has not been extensively studied. The research was designed as a randomized controlled trial conducted at Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore. A total of 50 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate COPD, aged between 40 and 60 years, were recruited based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A received a combination of TEDS and ACBT, while Group B received ACBT alone. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. TEDS was applied using specific settings-50Hz frequency, 300ms width, 6 seconds of stimulation followed by 5 seconds of rest. ACBT was administered through structured sessions involving breathing control, thoracic expansion, and forced expiratory techniques. Outcome measures included forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC ratio, oxygen saturation (both at rest and post-exercise), six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance, and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for quality of life assessment. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, and non-parametric tests were applied due to non-normal data distribution.

Conditions

• COPD

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transcutaneous Electrical Diaphragmatic Stimulation (TEDS)	TEDS was applied using surface electrodes placed over the diaphragm region. The stimulation protocol was set at 50 Hz frequency, 300 μs pulse width, with 6 seconds of stimulation followed by 5 seconds of rest, daily for 12 weeks. It was combined with ACBT sessions.
BEHAVIORAL	Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBT)	ACBT sessions included breathing control, thoracic expansion exercises, and forced expiration techniques (huffing). Sessions were performed daily for 12 weeks to aid in secretion clearance and improve lung function.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-28
• Primary completion: 2025-10-28
• Completion: 2025-11-10
• First posted: 2025-07-23
• Last updated: 2025-07-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan