RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Postoperative Electrical Muscle Stimulation Two

After major tummy surgery, especially for cancer, it's common to lose muscle strength and size quickly. This can make it harder to recover and get back to your usual activities. This study, called 'Postoperative Electrical Muscle Stimulation Two', aims to find out if using gentle electrical stimulation on your thigh muscles and having protein drinks can help stop this muscle loss. Researchers want to see if these methods preserve muscle strength and your ability to move around after surgery, helping you recover better. They previously found electrical stimulation helped one leg; now they are testing an improved method on both legs, and combining it with protein to see if that helps even more.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Nottingham

Enrolment target

Start

05 Jun 2025

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2027

Surgery Colorectal Cancer Muscle Atrophy Cancer Gi

What is this study about?

When you have major operations, especially for cancer, it's very common to lose muscle quickly, sometimes within just a few days. This can make it feel much harder to do everyday things, get out of bed, and regain your strength. This study is looking for ways to reduce this muscle loss and help you recover better after surgery.

Researchers have been working on a gentle treatment called 'neuromuscular electrical stimulation' (NMES). This involves placing sticky pads on your thigh muscles which send tiny electrical pulses to make the muscles contract softly. It's not painful, and it's designed to keep your muscles active even when you're resting or just starting to move after your operation. They've already seen promising results where this helped maintain muscle on one leg, and now they've refined the method to make it even more effective.

In this study, they want to see if this improved electrical stimulation, used on both thighs soon after your major tummy surgery, can help you keep more of your muscle strength and make it easier to get back to your physical activities. They are also curious to know if drinking a protein supplement at the same time might boost the benefits of the electrical stimulation even further.

Key takeaways

Aims to reduce muscle loss after major tummy surgery.
Tests electrical muscle stimulation and protein drinks.
Participation involves measurements before and after surgery.
Study takes place during the first 5 days in hospital.
Could help with quicker recovery and better mobility.

Who may be eligible?

This study is for adults aged 18 and over who have been diagnosed with bowel (colorectal) or stomach (gastric) cancer, or certain non-cancerous growths, and are going to have major surgery at Royal Derby Hospital to remove these.

To join, you need to be able to move fairly well already and have good spoken English so you can understand instructions. You also need to be able to agree to take part after understanding what the study involves.

There are certain reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have a pacemaker, any large metal in your upper legs, certain nerve diseases, epilepsy, or serious kidney or liver problems. If you're pregnant, have had recent blood clots, or are allergic to whey protein, you also wouldn't be able to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 or older?
Are you having bowel or stomach cancer surgery at Royal Derby Hospital?
Do you speak conversational English?
Do you have a pacemaker or large metal implants in your upper legs?
Are you pregnant or allergic to whey protein?
Do you have serious heart, kidney, liver, or nerve conditions?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll visit the hospital once before your surgery. During this visit, researchers will take some initial measurements, including using an ultrasound scan on your thigh muscles. After your surgery, for the first five days while you're in the hospital, you'll be put into one of three groups at random.

One group will receive the usual care after surgery. Another group will have the electrical muscle stimulation on both thighs twice a day and a plain flavoured drink. The third group will have the electrical muscle stimulation twice a day and also drink two protein-rich drinks each day. On the fifth day after your surgery, all participants will have the same measurements repeated, including another ultrasound scan, to see how much muscle mass they have maintained. The total duration of the active study part is five days after surgery.

Potential risks and benefits

The potential benefits of taking part include the possibility that the electrical stimulation and/or protein supplements could help you keep more muscle strength and recover better after your surgery. There are no guarantees, and it's also possible you might not benefit. Potential risks associated with electrical stimulation are generally minor, such as skin irritation where the pads are placed. Protein supplements are usually well-tolerated, but there's a small chance of allergic reactions (people with whey allergy are excluded). You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and your medical care will not be affected.

Locations (1)

Royal Derby Hospital
Verified postcode
Derby, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is electrical muscle stimulation?

It's a gentle treatment where sticky pads on your skin send small electrical pulses to make your muscles contract softly, helping to keep them active.

Will the electrical stimulation be painful?

It's designed to be gentle and not painful, aiming to make your muscles softly contract rather than causing discomfort.

Why is muscle important after surgery?

Keeping your muscle strength means you can recover more easily, get back to moving around, and do everyday activities after your operation.

Can I eat or drink normally during the study?

Yes, you will continue with your normal diet and post-operative care, with the addition of the study drinks if you are in one of those groups.

What if I change my mind about participating?

You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without any impact on your medical care.

How to find out more

Sawsan Abdul-Hamid, MBBS

sawsan.abdul-hamid@nottingham.ac.uk 00441332724687 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.