Effect of adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation for patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Healthcare providers have faced challenges for patients with moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in conducting their pulmonary rehabilitation due to dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been used to improve the muscle group's power and endurance without adding pulmonary workload, which might be used as a potential adjuvant rehabilitation method and thus to improve patients' pulmonary functions.

Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.