Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40950566›Full record

ReviewThe South African journal of physiotherapy2025

Systematic review of the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in post-coronavirus disease.

Nathali Carvajal-Tello, Alejandro Segura-Ordóñez, Harry García-Muñoz, Lida J Sánchez-Montoya, Luisa M Cambindo-Larrahondo, Valentina Muñoz-Chaux, Johana P Barahona-Guzmán, Andrés F Caballero-Lozada

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in The South African journal of physiotherapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nathali Carvajal-TelloHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5930-7934
Alejandro Segura-OrdóñezHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8925-2244
Harry García-MuñozHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6394-7926
Lida J Sánchez-MontoyaHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1167-1961
Luisa M Cambindo-LarrahondoHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0583-0036
Valentina Muñoz-ChauxHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2739-6509
Johana P Barahona-GuzmánUniversidad San Martin, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3255-1500
Andrés F Caballero-LozadaHealth and Movement Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4161-4805

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has demonstrated its efficacy in improving strength, muscle development, optimising microcirculation, reducing frailty and mortality risk. A better understanding of its prescription and effects in patients with coronavirus syndrome post (COVID-19) could favour its use. Objectives: To find evidence that compares the effectiveness of NMES in the increasing muscle mass, muscle strength and functional independence of patients in post-intensive care unit (ICU) with COVID-19 syndrome. Method: A systematic search was carried out in electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Ovid and Cochrane from 22 May 2022 to 30 April 2023, without language restriction, including clinical controlled trials (CCTs) and prospective longitudinal studies (PLS). Prospero registration (CRD42022332036). Results: A total of 1718 scientific articles were found; four articles met the inclusion criteria. For NMES dosing, intervention time ranged from 9 days to 30 days, the stimulus frequency was between 20 Hz and 121 Hz and the pulse width was between 350 µs and 1400 µs. The application time ranged from 30 min to 60 min, the intensity was between 20 mA and 250 mA and the stimulated muscle groups were quadriceps, tibialis anterior, hamstrings and gluteus. Conclusion: The use of NMES after COVID-19 such as integral complementary strategy improves muscle mass, strength and functionality of the patients optimising recovery results. Clinical implications: The addition of NMES to standard physical therapy might have a positive impact on the recovery of individuals who have survived COVID-19.

Indexed as

COVID-19functional independencemuscle strengthneuromuscular electrical stimulationpost-acute COVID-19 syndrometherapeutic electric stimulation

Identifiers

PMID40950566
PMCPMC12424471

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.