Could a simple electrical zap help ventilator patients walk again sooner?

NCT ID NCT07188350

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Hospital Moinhos de Vento Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to standard physical therapy helps ICU patients on breathing machines recover muscle strength. About 150 adults will be randomly assigned to get either physical therapy alone or physical therapy plus NMES on their legs. The main goal is to see if NMES improves muscle strength by the time they leave the ICU.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple way to help critically ill patients regain muscle strength faster and reduce long-term weakness.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial (150 participants) testing a device, so results may not apply broadly. The added benefit over standard therapy may be small or absent.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Critical Illness

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CRITICAL ILLNESS INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS MECHANICAL VENTILATION MUSCLE WEAKNESS CONDITION NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION (NMES)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hospital Moinhos de Vento
RECRUITING

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-902, Brazil

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