OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of quadriceps functional electrical stimulation (FES)-cycling on exertional VO2 compared with placebo FES-cycling in patients with COPD. DESIGN: A randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. SETTING: Pulmonary rehabilitation department. PARTICIPANTS: 23 consecutive patients with COPD GOLD stage 2, 3 or 4 (mean FEV1 1.4 +/- 0.4 L (50.3% pred)) who had recently begun a respiratory rehabilitation program. INTERVENTION: Two consecutive 30-minute sessions were carried out at a constant load with active and placebo FES-cycling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was mean VO2 during the 30-minute exercise session. The secondary outcomes were respiratory gas exchange and hemodynamic parameters averaged over the 30-minute endurance session. Lactate values, dyspnea and perceived muscle fatigue were evaluated at the end of the sessions. RESULTS: FES-cycling increased the physiological response more than the placebo, with a greater VO2 achieved of 36.6 (95% CI 8.9 to 64.3) mL/min (p = 0.01). There was also a greater increase in lactate after FES-cycling (+1.5 (95% CI 0.05 to 2.9) mmol/L; p = 0.01). FES-cycling did not change dyspnoea or muscle fatigue compared with the placebo condition. CONCLUSION: FES-cycling effectively increased exercise intensity in patients with COPD. Further studies should evaluate longer-term FES-cycling rehabilitation programs.

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