Transcutaneous Functional Magnetic Muscle Stimulation in Critically Ill

Peripheral neuromuscular system stimulation will be conducted for the quadriceps femoris muscle using a magnetic stimulator (Tesla stym, Iskra Medical, Otoče, SLO). For magnetic stimulation, we will use pulse trains (20-50 Hz) with intensities ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 Tesla. The stimulation trains will be up to 3-6 seconds long, and the duty cycle will be varied from 1:1 to 1:10. Muscles will be stimulated with a magnetic field intensity that triggers visible contraction. The stimulation will last for 55 minutes per selected limb and will be performed 5 days a week.