Safety Evaluation of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Intensive care unit acquired muscle weakness (ICUAW), is a common disease which influence rehabilitation, extend mechanical ventilation and length of stay in intensive care unit, and affect quality of life at hospital discharge. To prevent ICUAW, different strategies of early mobilization are recommended. But all cannot be applied in all ICU patients. Some of them benefit from heavy therapies like circulatory assistance or renal replacement therapy for example, that limit mobilization. Cycloergometer is a tool that allows continuous passive mobilization in bedridden and even unconscious patients. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an alternative that helps preserve muscle mass and limit muscle atrophy. Early bedside cycle exercise coupled with NMES is an interesting new approach where application of an electrical stimulation along specific motor nerves on each lower limb, generates muscles contractions and pedaling on cycloergometer. The aim of this study is to evaluate safety and feasibility of this coupled technique called Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling, in ICU patients.