ArticleInternational urology and nephrology2026
Impact of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on physical performance, muscle strength, and body composition in hemodialysis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
Article in International urology and nephrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on physical performance, muscle strength, and body composition in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
methodsSystematic searches were conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from their respective inceptions (earliest 1900) to March 31, 2026. Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing NMES to usual care/sham NMES were eligible. Meta-analyses were performed for both post-intervention values and changes from baseline.
resultsSeventeen trials (comprising 19 reports; n = 403) were included, with NMES treatment durations ranging from 4 to 20 weeks. NMES significantly improved 6-min walk test distance in both post-intervention (MD = 43.12 m; 95% CI 18.17, 68.07) and change from baseline (MD = 37.00 m; 95% CI 11.88, 62.12) analyses. Gait speed demonstrated a significant increase in the change value analysis (MD = 0.19 m/s; 95% CI 0.10, 0.28), although post-intervention comparisons were non-significant. No significant improvements were observed in skeletal muscle mass, lean body mass, handgrip strength, or adiposity markers. NMES was well-tolerated, with no adverse effects on dialysis adequacy (Kt/V, change MD = - 0.07, 95% CI - 0.16, 0.01), electrolyte balance (e.g. potassium, change SMD = 0.14; 95% CI - 0.25, 0.53), or hemodynamic stability (e.g., systolic blood pressure, change MD = - 1.58 mmHg; 95% CI - 10.72, 7.56).
conclusionNMES is a safe and effective rehabilitative tool for enhancing exercise tolerance and functional walking capacity in patients undergoing hemodialysis, despite limited impact on muscle hypertrophy or body composition.
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Identifiers
42809192What Socratic holds
Registered trials
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.