Improvement of Muscular Performance in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure After Some Weeks of Low-Frequency Electrical Stimulation

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the long-termed low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) improves skeletal muscle performance and the rating of perceived exertion. Ten patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA III-IV) were examined before and after 3 and 5 weeks of stimulation of quadriceps muscles. All the patients were on the waiting list for heart transplantation, were symptomatically stable and with optimized pharmacologic treatment (ACEI, betablockers, diuretics). The isometric dynamometry testing of quadriceps muscles was performed. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was expressed using the Borg scale. The results of this study demonstrated a significant positive impact of the LFES after 3 and 5 weeks of stimulation on the muscle performance of quadriceps muscles in patients with CHF. Analysis of RPE showed improvement. LFES was subjectively well tolerated and did not exhibit any harmful effect on hemodynamic parameters.