The Effect of a Portable Electrical Muscle Stimulation Device at Home on Muscle Strength and Activation Patterns in Locomotive Syndrome Patients: A Randomized Control Trial

The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) intervention using a portable device on muscle strength and activation patterns in locomotive syndrome. Nineteen women were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 10; age = 71–82 years) and control group (n = 9; age = 70–84 years). Participants in the intervention group used a portable EMS device to stimulate the bilateral quadriceps muscles for 8 weeks (23 min/5 days/week). To understand the effects of EMS, the following measurements were made at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks: locomotive syndrome assessment score, knee extensor strength, vastus lateralis muscle activation patterns during a maximal isometric knee extension contraction using multi-channel surface electromyography, and muscle thickness. The locomotive syndrome assessment, muscle strength, muscle thickness, and muscle activity patterns in the intervention group were significantly different to control after 8 weeks (p \u3c 0.05). However, these results were not sustained at 12 weeks. EMS increased locomotor assessment scores, which were accompanied by enhanced muscle strength, increased muscle thickness, and changes in muscle activation patterns in locomotive syndrome patients. These results suggest that EMS is potentially useful for improving muscle neural activation and force output in locomotive syndrome

Effect of the Combination of Whole-Body Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Voluntary Exercise on Metabolic Responses in Human

PurposeSince neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can recruit high-threshold motor units and enhance glucose metabolism, the combination of NMES and voluntary low-intensity exercise would induce both anerobic and aerobic energy consumptions and this type of exercise could be more efficient and effective than conventional exercise regimens. We aimed to investigate metabolic responses and muscle fatigue during whole body NMES (WB-NMES), voluntary exercise, and their combination.MethodsThe blood lactate concentration and maximal voluntary contraction were measured before and after specified exercises: WB-NMES (E), voluntary exercise (V), and their combination (VE), and expired gas was sampled during the exercises in thirteen healthy young men. Each exercise was conducted for 15 min and interval between exercise was > 48h.ResultsEnergy expenditure and V˙O2 relative to the body mass during VE were significantly higher than during V and E (p < 0.05). The Respiratory gas exchange ratio (RER) during both E and VE was higher than during V (p < 0.05), and the blood lactate concentration after VE was significantly higher than after V and E (p < 0.05). Although V˙O2 relative to the body mass was 18.6 ± 3.1 ml/min/kg and the metabolic equivalent was 5.31 ± 0.89 Mets, the blood lactate concentration reached 7.5 ± 2.7 mmol/L after VE.ConclusionThese results suggest that the combination of WB-NMES and voluntary exercise can enhance the metabolic response to a level equivalent to high intensity exercise under the net physiological burden of low-middle intensity exercises

The Effect of a Portable Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Elderly People: Three Case Studies

金沢大学理工研究域フロンティア工学系Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays an important role in cognitive and nerve function, is released from skeletal muscle cells into the blood by muscle contractions and/or electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). However, the influence of EMS administered by a portable device on BDNF is unclear. The purpose of this case report was to quantify the influence of EMS administered by a portable device on BDNF and physical function. Three elderly people (age, 69.7 ± 1.5 years) were included in the present study. The participants used a portable EMS device to stimulate the bilateral quadriceps muscles for 8 weeks (23 min for 5 days/week). To determine the effects of EMS, the following parameters were assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks (follow-up): knee extensor strength, muscle mass of the lower limb, Berg balance score, and blood BDNF level. All outcomes improved after the EMS intervention, but the improvements did not persist for 12 weeks. These findings suggest that portable EMS is potentially useful for improving the blood BDNF level and physical function

Effect of electrode position of low intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the evoked force in the quadriceps femoris muscle

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to test the effect of the electrode position and inter-electrode distance on the evoked force by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with a low current intensity and a single pair of electrodes. Knee extensor forces during NMES to quadriceps femoris muscles were compared among four different electrode configurations in seven healthy men. Electrodes were located at 10 cm proximal and 15 cm distal (P10-D15), 10 cm proximal and 10 cm distal (P10-D10), 5 cm proximal and 15 cm distal, and 5 cm proximal and 10 cm distal (P5-D10) to the center of the longitudinal axis of the quadriceps femoris muscles. Results The evoked force–time area for P5-D10 was significantly higher than those for P10-D15 and P10-D10 (p < 0.05). When using NMES devices with a low current intensity, a shorter inter-electrode distance and relatively distal locations can promote greater evoked forces in the quadriceps femoris muscles

The Effect of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Muscle Mass and Balance in Older Adults with Dementia

Background: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is effective for increasing physical function. However, there is no evidence regarding the effects of EMS on muscle mass and physical function in older adults with dementia. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of EMS on muscle mass and balance in older adults with dementia. Methods: A total of 32 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 16, age = 89.4 ± 4.8 years) and a control group (n = 16, age = 88.1 ± 5.2 years). Participants in the intervention group underwent a general rehabilitation program (20 min for three days/week) and an EMS intervention (23 min for three days/week) for 23 weeks. Participants in the control group underwent general rehabilitation only. The efficacy of EMS was evaluated by lower limb muscle mass, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the functional independence measure (FIM). Results: Muscle mass was significantly increased in the intervention group after 12 weeks (p = 0.008), but average muscle mass in the control group did not change (p = 0.18). Participants in the control group showed a significant decrease in BBS after 12 weeks (p = 0.007), unlike those in the intervention group. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) results and the change in muscle mass, the BBS, and the FIM in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that EMS is a useful intervention for increasing muscle mass and maintaining balance function in older adults with dementia

The Effect of a Portable Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Elderly People: Three Case Studies

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays an important role in cognitive and nerve function, is released from skeletal muscle cells into the blood by muscle contractions and/or electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). However, the influence of EMS administered by a portable device on BDNF is unclear. The purpose of this case report was to quantify the influence of EMS administered by a portable device on BDNF and physical function. Three elderly people (age, 69.7 ± 1.5 years) were included in the present study. The participants used a portable EMS device to stimulate the bilateral quadriceps muscles for 8 weeks (23 min for 5 days/week). To determine the effects of EMS, the following parameters were assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks (follow-up): knee extensor strength, muscle mass of the lower limb, Berg balance score, and blood BDNF level. All outcomes improved after the EMS intervention, but the improvements did not persist for 12 weeks. These findings suggest that portable EMS is potentially useful for improving the blood BDNF level and physical function

The effect of electrical muscle stimulation on muscle mass and balance in older adults with dementia

金沢大学理工研究域フロンティア工学系Background: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is effective for increasing physical function. However, there is no evidence regarding the effects of EMS on muscle mass and physical function in older adults with dementia. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of EMS on muscle mass and balance in older adults with dementia. Methods: A total of 32 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 16, age = 89.4 ± 4.8 years) and a control group (n = 16, age = 88.1 ± 5.2 years). Participants in the intervention group underwent a general rehabilitation program (20 min for three days/week) and an EMS intervention (23 min for three days/week) for 23 weeks. Participants in the control group underwent general rehabilitation only. The efficacy of EMS was evaluated by lower limb muscle mass, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the functional independence measure (FIM). Results: Muscle mass was significantly increased in the intervention group after 12 weeks (p = 0.008), but average muscle mass in the control group did not change (p = 0.18). Participants in the control group showed a significant decrease in BBS after 12 weeks (p = 0.007), unlike those in the intervention group. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) results and the change in muscle mass, the BBS, and the FIM in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that EMS is a useful intervention for increasing muscle mass and maintaining balance function in older adults with dementia.CC BY 4.