***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Introduction Critically ill patients are characterized by increased loss of muscle mass , partially attributed to sepsis and multiple organ failure , as well as immobilization . Recent studies have shown that electrical muscle stimulation ( EMS ) may be an alternative to active exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) and chronic heart failure ( CHF ) patients with myopathy . The aim of our study was to investigate the EMS effects on muscle mass preservation of critically ill patients with the use of ultrasonography ( US ) . Methods Forty-nine critically ill patients ( age : 59 ± 21 years ) with an APACHE II admission score ≥13 were r and omly assigned after stratification upon admission to receive daily EMS sessions of both lower extremities ( EMS-group ) or to the control group ( control group ) . Muscle mass was evaluated with US , by measuring the cross sectional diameter ( CSD ) of the vastus intermedius and the rectus femoris of the quadriceps muscle . Results Twenty-six patients were finally evaluated . Right rectus femoris and right vastus intermedius CSD decreased in both groups ( EMS group : from 1.42 ± 0.48 to 1.31 ± 0.45 cm , P = 0.001 control group : from 1.59 ± 0.53 to 1.37 ± 0.5 cm , P = 0.002 ; EMS group : from 0.91 ± 0.39 to 0.81 ± 0.38 cm , P = 0.001 control group : from 1.40 ± 0.64 to 1.11 ± 0.56 cm , P = 0.004 , respectively ) . However , the CSD of the right rectus femoris decreased significantly less in the EMS group ( -0.11 ± 0.06 cm , -8 ± 3.9 % ) as compared to the control group ( -0.21 ± 0.10 cm , -13.9 ± 6.4 % ; P < 0.05 ) and the CSD of the right vastus intermedius decreased significantly less in the EMS group ( -0.10 ± 0.05 cm , -12.5 ± 7.4 % ) as compared to the control group ( -0.29 ± 0.28 cm , -21.5 ± 15.3 % ; P < 0.05 ) . Conclusions EMS is well tolerated and seems to preserve the muscle mass of critically ill patients . The potential use of EMS as a preventive and rehabilitation tool in ICU patients with polyneuromyopathy needs to be further investigated . Trial Registration clinical trials.gov : Objectives : To investigate whether a daily exercise session , using a bedside cycle ergometer , is a safe and effective intervention in preventing or attenuating the decrease in functional exercise capacity , functional status , and quadriceps force that is associated with prolonged intensive care unit stay . A prolonged stay in the intensive care unit is associated with muscle dysfunction , which may contribute to an impaired functional status up to 1 yr after hospital discharge . No evidence is available concerning the effectiveness of an early exercise training intervention to prevent these detrimental complications . Design : R and omized controlled trial . Setting : Medical and surgical intensive care unit at University Hospital Gasthuisberg . Patients : Ninety critically ill patients were included as soon as their cardiorespiratory condition allowed bedside cycling exercise ( starting from day 5 ) , given they still had an expected prolonged intensive care unit stay of at least 7 more days . Interventions : Both groups received respiratory physiotherapy and a daily st and ardized passive or active motion session of upper and lower limbs . In addition , the treatment group performed a passive or active exercise training session for 20 mins/day , using a bedside ergometer . Measurements and Main Results : All outcome data are reflective for survivors . Quadriceps force and functional status were assessed at intensive care unit discharge and hospital discharge . Six-minute walking distance was measured at hospital discharge . No adverse events were identified during and immediately after the exercise training . At intensive care unit discharge , quadriceps force and functional status were not different between groups . At hospital discharge , 6-min walking distance , isometric quadriceps force , and the subjective feeling of functional well-being ( as measured with “ Physical Functioning ” item of the Short Form 36 Health Survey question naire ) were significantly higher in the treatment group ( p < .05 ) . Conclusions : Early exercise training in critically ill intensive care unit survivors enhanced recovery of functional exercise capacity , self-perceived functional status , and muscle force at hospital discharge BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle dysfunction and exercise intolerance are common in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) . We assessed the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation ( NMES ) as a home-based exercise therapy . METHODS In this double-blind , placebo-controlled trial , undertaken across three UK National Health Service sites , we r and omly assigned ( 1:1 ) adults with COPD , a forced expiratory volume in 1 s ( FEV1 ) less than 50 % predicted , and incapacitating breathlessness ( Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale ≥4 ) to receive active or placebo NMES  , daily over a 6-week period . R and omisation was by an independent system using minimisation to balance age , GOLD stage , and quadriceps strength . Participants and outcome assessors were masked to group allocation . The primary endpoint was change in 6-min walk test ( 6MWT ) distance at 6 weeks . Analysis was by intention to treat . The trial was registered as IS RCT N15985261 and is now closed . FINDINGS Between June 29 , 2012 , and July 4 , 2014 , we enrolled 73 participants , of whom 52 participants were r and omly assigned ; 25 to  receive active NMES and 27 to placebo NMES  . Change in 6MWT distance was greater in the active NMES group ( mean 29·9 [ 95 % CI 8·9 to 51·0 ] ) compared with in the placebo group ( -5·7 [ -19·9 to 8·4 ] ; mean difference at 6 weeks 35·7 m [ 95 % CI 10·5 to 60·9 ] ; p=0·005 ) . Sensitivity analyses for complete-cases and adjustment for baseline values showed similar results . 6 weeks after stopping the intervention the effect waned ( 7·3 m [ 95 % CI -32·5 to 47·0 ] ; p=0·50 ) . The proportion of participants who had adverse events was similar between groups ( five [ 20 % ] in the active NMES group and nine [ 33 % ] in the placebo group ) . Two participants , one from each group , reported persistent erythema , which was considered to be possibly related to NMES and the use of adhesive electrodes . INTERPRETATION NMES  improves functional exercise capacity in patients with severe COPD by enhancing quadriceps muscle mass and function . These data support the use of NMES in the management of patients unable to engage with conventional pulmonary rehabilitation . More work is needed to study how to maintain the effect . FUNDING National Institute for Health Research Introduction The purpose of this trial was to investigate the effectiveness of an exercise rehabilitation program commencing during ICU admission and continuing into the outpatient setting compared with usual care on physical function and health-related quality of life in ICU survivors . Methods We conducted a single-center , assessor-blinded , r and omized controlled trial . One hundred and fifty participants were stratified and r and omized to receive usual care or intervention if they were in the ICU for 5 days or more and had no permanent neurological insult . The intervention group received intensive exercises in the ICU and the ward and as out patients . Participants were assessed at recruitment , ICU admission , hospital discharge and at 3- , 6- and 12-month follow-up . Physical function was evaluated using the Six-Minute Walk Test ( 6MWT ) ( primary outcome ) , the Timed Up and Go Test and the Physical Function in ICU Test . Patient-reported outcomes were measured using the Short Form 36 Health Survey , version 2 ( SF-36v2 ) and Assessment of Quality of Life ( AQoL ) Instrument . Data were analyzed using mixed models . Results The a priori enrollment goal was not reached . There were no between-group differences in demographic and hospital data , including acuity and length of acute hospital stay ( LOS ) ( Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score : 21 vs 19 ; hospital LOS : 20 vs 24 days ) . No significant differences were found for the primary outcome of 6MWT or any other outcomes at 12 months after ICU discharge . However , exploratory analyses showed the rate of change over time and mean between-group differences in 6MWT from first assessment were greater in the intervention group . Conclusions Further research examining the trajectory of improvement with rehabilitation is warranted in this population .Trial registration The trial was registered with the Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12605000776606 Introduction Critical illness polyneuromyopathy ( CIPNM ) is a common complication of critical illness presenting with muscle weakness and is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation and weaning period . No preventive tool and no specific treatment have been proposed so far for CIPNM . Electrical muscle stimulation ( EMS ) has been shown to be beneficial in patients with severe chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . Aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of EMS in preventing CIPNM in critically ill patients . Methods One hundred and forty consecutive critically ill patients with an APACHE II score ≥ 13 were r and omly assigned after stratification to the EMS group ( n = 68 ) ( age:61 ± 19 years ) ( APACHE II:18 ± 4 , SOFA:9 ± 3 ) or to the control group ( n = 72 ) ( age:58 ± 18 years ) ( APACHE II:18 ± 5 , SOFA:9 ± 3 ) . Patients of the EMS group received daily EMS sessions . CIPNM was diagnosed clinical ly with the medical research council ( MRC ) scale for muscle strength ( maximum score 60 , < 48/60 cut off for diagnosis ) by two unblinded independent investigators . Duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit ( ICU ) stay were recorded . Results Fifty two patients could be finally evaluated with MRC ; 24 in the EMS group and 28 in the control group . CIPNM was diagnosed in 3 patients in the EMS group as compared to 11 patients in the control group ( OR = 0.22 ; CI : 0.05 to 0.92 , P = 0.04 ) . The MRC score was significantly higher in patients of the EMS group as compared to the control group [ 58 ( 33 to 60 ) vs. 52 ( 2 to 60 ) respectively , median ( range ) , P = 0.04 ) . The weaning period was statistically significantly shorter in patients of the EMS group vs. the control group [ 1 ( 0 to 10 ) days vs. 3 ( 0 to 44 ) days , respectively , median ( range ) , P = 0.003 ] . Conclusions This study suggests that daily EMS sessions prevent the development of CIPNM in critically ill patients and also result in shorter duration of weaning . Further studies should evaluate which patients benefit more from EMS and explore the EMS characteristics most appropriate for preventing CIPNM.Trial Registration Number Clinical Trials.gov OBJECTIVE It is known that patients in the intensive care unit show an enormous loss of muscle mass . Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is effective in enhancing strength and endurance in immobilized patients . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle layer thickness of knee extensor muscles in intensive care unit patients . DESIGN R and omized , controlled , double-blind , pilot trial . PATIENTS Thirty-three patients , male to female ratio 26:7 , mean age 55 years ( st and ard deviation 15 ) . METHODS After enrolment in the study , intensive care unit patients ( main diagnoses : polytrauma , cardiovascular diseases , transplantation , pneumonia , cancer ) were stratified ( based on the length of their stay in hospital ) into 2 groups : 17 acute patients ( < 7 days ) and 16 long-term patients ( > 14 days ) . Both groups were r and omized to a stimulation group or a sham-stimulation group . Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied to knee extensor muscles for a period of 4 weeks ( session time 30 - 60 minutes , 5 days/week ) . Ultrasound measurements were performed before and after the stimulation period to quantify muscle layer thickness of knee extensor muscles . RESULTS Only stimulated long-term patients ( + 4.9 % ) showed a significant ( p = 0.013 ) increase in muscle layer thickness compared with sham-stimulated patients ( -3.2 % ) . CONCLUSION Neuromuscular electrical stimulation appears to be a useful adjunct to revert muscle wasting in intensive care unit long-term patients ; however , larger studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these promising , but preliminary , results Background The effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation ( NMES ) in critically ill patients after cardiothoracic surgery are unknown . The objectives were to investigate whether NMES prevents loss of muscle layer thickness ( MLT ) and strength and to observe the time variation of MLT and strength from preoperative day to hospital discharge . Methods In this r and omized controlled trial , 
    Output:
    
Conclusions : NMES and exercise‐based interventions may preserve muscle mass and function in patients with critical illness .
There is a lack of consistency seen in the effects of these interventions .
HIGHLIGHTSNMES and exercise‐based interventions  may preserve muscle mass and function .