Meaning of the study
The results of our study add to the growing body of evidence that SET has a significant benefit on walking distances of patients with ICIn the current trial we found that there was no overall significant improvement in walking distances in those patients using NMES as an adjunctive treatment to SET. No statistically significant effect was observed, but there was a trend suggesting a potential advantage to combined treatment. Interestingly, our post-hoc analysis suggests the response to SET and NMES appears to be dependent on baseline walking ability, and that these treatment options may be better for patients with IC able to walk longer distances. This, taken with the previous body of evidence of improved walking distancesIn conclusion, this multicentre, randomized trial demonstrates the clear benefit of SET for patients with IC. NMES appears to be beneficial both as an adjunct to SET and on its own in patients with longer baseline walking distances. This is of particular importance for patients with mild IC and in vulnerable groups that may feel unable to travel or feel uncomfortable attending SET and/or commercial gyms in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as NMES devices are widely available and can be used in a home setting.