Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Peripheral Arterial Disease

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), in addition to optimal medical therapy (OMT), on walking capacity, pain, fatigue, and quality of life in individuals with intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD). A total of 48 participants were randomly allocated to either the NMES or control group. Participants in the NMES group received NMES for 40 minutes per session, three times per week, for six weeks, in addition to OMT, whereas the control group received OMT alone. Outcome measures included walking capacity, pain, fatigue, disease-specific and generic quality of life, and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Assessments were performed at baseline and after the 6-week intervention.