Transcutaneous Electrical Diaphragmatic Stimulation and Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With COPD Exacerbated

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airflow limitation, a qualification of impairment of respiratory muscle function, including hyperinflation and muscle weakness. Thus, pulmonary rehabilitation is indicated for patients and is recommended for even the most severe cases. However some patients do not conclude conventional rehabilitation protocols, due to exercise intolerance, are then an electrical estimation and muscle training respiratory adjuvant treatments for patients. and little has been explored about the effects and methodologies of using transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation (TEDS) in healthy subjects. The objective of this study on stage I is to evaluate the acute effect of transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation on respiratory muscle strength, cardiac variability, thickness, resistance, mobility and diaphragmatic activation comparing different frequencies of electrical stimulation in healthy individuals. The objective of this study on stage II is to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation, compared to inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength, security of the technics, thickness and diaphragmatic function in healthy individuals.The objective of this study on stage III is to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation, compared to IMT on respiratory muscle strength, lung function, thickness and diaphragmatic function in patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital de Clinicas of Porto Alegre (CAEE: 80271517.2.0000.5327).